La Gazzetta dello Sport details how Leonardo Bonucci sent a legal note to Juventus to try and be reintegrated into the squad, but his request was denied.
The report on page eight details how the veteran defender has been cut from the project in the Piedmont capital and has now been pushed to the fringes of Massimiliano Allegri’s squad.
He was not brought to the pre-season tour in the United States and has been expected to leave the club this summer.
Bonucci sent Juventus a PEC – a certified email that is used in Italy to legally prove that the email was sent and received – requesting to be reintegrated into the first team squad.
This caused no doubts for the club, who were apparent with their rejection, making it clear that the choice was a technical one.
Bonucci’s PEC could be a sign of further legal action; he could be gearing up for the arbitration board, looking to terminate his contract a year in advance with a request for compensation.
This is a right established in the collective agreement of Serie A players, aimed to protect those who end up on the fringes of squads. The rules state that the excluded player must be allowed to train with the first team.
The veteran defender is currently training away from the first team squad, working with the other undesirable players at the Bianconeri.
He is unhappy with this situation, feeling that he’d have been treated better considering his history, but the club have been clear that all players outside the project are treated equally.
Bonucci’s entourage have been exploring possible destinations for their client for a number of weeks now and he is still expected to leave the club at some point this month, allowing him to start a new adventure in the twilight of his career.