Why Manchester City should plot a move for Leonardo Bonucci
As per Calciomercato (h/t Daily Mail), Manchester City are keen on signing Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci in the summer to tighten their backline.
Bonucci, 32, came through the ranks of Inter Milan’s youth system and played for several clubs including Genoa before switching to Juventus in 2010. Since then, he has been a regular member of the Old Lady’s squad, except for one season when he played for AC Milan.
The veteran has got enormous experience under his belt after making 394 appearances for Juventus and has also featured in 95 games for Italy. He is one of the most experienced players in the squad and has been consistent over the years. His experience could definitely be a huge boost for Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s men haven’t been dominant in their title defence like they used to be in the previous campaigns. Though they have made progress in the Champions League, City are far behind Liverpool in the Premier League.
They are 23 behind and that indicates the decrease in their quality. One of the chief reasons for their inconsistency is the unstable nature of their defensive unit, which has already conceded 31 goals more than the 23 they let in all throughout the last campaign.
The departure of Vincent Kompany last summer and the long-term injury faced by Aymeric Laporte had made it difficult for the manager to find the right combination. John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have become unreliable due to their below-par performance and Fernandinho had to feature in central defence.
However, they haven’t been convincing at the back and a change needs to happen. They should bring in someone who has the same experience as Kompany and the leadership qualities at the back. Therefore, making a move for Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci would be a good choice for the Cityzens.
The 32-year-old has been reliable at the back for Juventus for almost a decade and has been Italy’s immovable object alongside Giorgio Chiellini. He has featured in 25 Serie A games this season and has helped the club keep 9 clean sheets while scoring 3 goals.
The Italian international would be a huge boost for Guardiola’s side as Bonucci has immense experience at the highest level. And despite being 32, he has been on top of his game for the past few years. And his inclusion in the squad would also allow Fernandinho to move to his favoured defensive midfield position.
Bonucci has captained Juventus for the majority of this campaign due to Chiellini’s injury and the former has experience in leading the team. He could be a vital player in Guardiola’s squad if he is able to keep up the good form and help the team concede less.
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Verdict
Since Kompany departed, City have had no proper leader at the back and that resulted in chaos throughout the campaign. And Bonucci could provide them with the depth and much-needed quality. Therefore, Manchester City should make a move for the Italian international and lure him to Etihad in the summer.
