Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci is among the most criticised players following the Old Lady’s elimination in the Champions League group stage.
The Bianconeri were knocked out of Europe’s elite competition in the group phase for the first time since 2013-14, when Antonio Conte was in charge of the team.
Bonucci is the only current Juventus player who was also part of the team that season.
His performance against Benfica last night mirrored the poor display from the entire squad with Juventus conceding four goals in 50 minutes.
The Italy international is being heavily criticised by Italian sports papers today with the highest grade being 4/10 from Gazzetta and Il Corriere Dello Sport while Tuttosport rated the experienced centre-back 3/10.
“A complete disaster, it was a nightmare of a night for the captain,” wrote the Turin-based paper. “He didn’t get a thing right and in the end Allegri replaced him.”
The Italian tactician was seen consoling his captain after subbing him off in the second half.
“If the captain also collapsed on the most important night, then it means that Juventus really are in trouble,” added Il Corriere Dello Sport.
Moot point I know but had Italy qualified to the World Cup would we really have trotted Bonucci and Chiellini, who can only play 1 match every 10 days, as starters?
Couldn’t be happening to a nicer person….
he was by a mile, He needs to retire , not move on like to MLS, as he will underperform
@Brandon: Well you can’t play Bastoni-Mancini on a 4-man defense because they suck – so who’s left ? Acerbi ??