Riccardo Montolivo says he ‘understands’ Leonardo Bonucci’s frustration at being forced out of Juventus, launching a broadside at ‘unfair, not in good faith’ Gennaro Gattuso at Milan.
Bonucci bitterly criticised Juve for pushing him out of the club and is even threatening legal action against them, openly blaming coach Max Allegri and director Cristiano Giuntoli.
Speaking to DAZN in his role as a television pundit ahead of today’s Juventus-Lazio match, Montolivo got a few things off his chest.
“I too have been frozen out of a squad, at Milan. In that situation, I was dealing with a coach who was unfair, who did not act in good faith.
“He did not even tell me himself that I was out, he got the team manager to do it. For the good of the team and the club, I preferred to simply accept and stay quiet.
“I don’t blame Bonucci, I understand his reaction and that he felt humiliated and insulted, but when you respond so publicly, it’s a bitter battle that leaves no winners.”
Montolivo ended up retiring in the summer of 2019, after a seven-year spell at San Siro.
His career had started in the Atalanta youth academy and he moved to Fiorentina in 2005, before the free transfer to Milan in 2012.
The midfielder made 17 competitive appearances for the Rossoneri under Gattuso, all of them in the 2017-18 season.
Montolivo was not given a single minute of playing time throughout the 2018-19 campaign and eventually decided to hang up his boots.