Bonucci reveals details of rejecting Guardiola's offer and moving to AC Milan

Leonardo Bonucci, the former defender of Juventus and current member of the coaching staff for the Italian national team led by Roberto Mancini, has unveiled important details from his career, notably Pep Guardiola's attempts to recruit him to join Manchester City, alongside the reasons for his transfer to AC Milan in 2017.

Leonardo Bonucci, in an interview with World Soccer Agency, stated that the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons were a significant turning point in his career, after reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2015 against Barcelona, and then participating with Italy in the 2016 European Championship, where the team was eliminated by Germany on penalties, after Bonucci scored a goal against Manuel Neuer.

Leonardo Bonucci explained that his style of building play from the back attracted the interest of Pep Guardiola, who was preparing to take over at Manchester City, saying: "Because of my playing style, Guardiola was the coach who preferred playing from the back the most. At that point, an intensive approach began that lasted for several weeks. When Guardiola calls you, it’s not an ordinary approach. I started to hesitate."

He added: "That was during the UEFA Champions League, and I had to stay focused, but even during the tournament there were moments of communication. For my part, the idea of leaving Juventus made my heart tremble. Some days I would say: Beautiful, the Premier League and Guardiola, and the next day I would say: I have always dreamed of Juventus."

Leonardo Bonucci has pointed out that family circumstances, including his son Matteo's illness, along with not feeling fully prepared to leave Juventus, contributed to his staying at the club. He explained: "Matteo's illness, and my feeling that I am not 100% ready to leave Juventus, which also told me that even if an amazing offer came in, they would not sell me, made my staying a natural outcome."

Bonucci admitted that his move to AC Milan in the summer of 2017 came at a time when he was not able to make the best decision. He said: "The following year, with my transfer to AC Milan, I had lost clarity of thought after the events that took place in 2017."

He added that his strained relationship with coach Massimiliano Allegri played a role during that period, affirming: "I was about to become one of the pillars of Juventus, and that was the path I should have taken. Nothing happened to make me think that I was no longer comfortable here or that I should leave. I was in the comfort zone that allowed me to deliver my best performances, so leaving didn't make sense."