For many it used to be his vociferous screams whenever Juventus scored. Those who followed the team more closely remember him watching a match against Empoli with the Ultras in the Curva Sud. Even neutrals who admired him from a distance had the image of him striding out of defence wearing those famous black and white stripes, playing wonderfully accurate long balls to spark yet another Bianconeri attack.
Last summer however, Leonardo Bonucci ensured that the image he had so carefully carved was tarnished beyond recognition. Six Serie A titles, two Champions League finals and over 300 appearances for the club immediately meant nothing as he turned his back on the Old Lady, not only demanding a move away but also handpicking his destination. It was bad enough that the Italy international wanted to leave Turin, yet he somehow managed to make it even worse by insisting the only side he would join was AC Milan.
There were of course mitigating circumstances, but Juve supporters – including this writer – were quick to lambast him. His social media accounts became an outlet for their anger and frustration, every post met either by a flurry of insults or a reply consisting solely of numerous rat emojis, the emotional outbursts fuelled by his constant talk of being “hungry” for success with the Rossoneri.
Then he changed his mind again and wanted to come back. Milan barely made it into the Europa League, but Juve enjoyed yet another memorable Champions League campaign and added a fourth consecutive domestic double, then signed Cristiano Ronaldo for good measure.
With the Portuguese megastar already 33 years old, their window for European glory was thrown wide open, but perhaps only for this season and the one immediately after. The margin for error will as always be minute, which is unquestionably why the directors in Turin not only agreed to facilitate Bonucci’s return, but they were willing to sacrifice former Atalanta defender Mattia Caldara in order to do so.
The 24-year-old is undoubtedly going to become a top quality central defender, but Bonucci already is one. He’s also a player who understands Max Allegri’s tactical nuances and has proven he can cope with the pressure that comes with wearing the Juventus shirt, neither of which had Caldara been given chance to do.
On Thursday afternoon, Bonucci created yet another memorable moment, walking back into the press conference room at Juventus Stadium as media members gathered to ask him about this unexpected return. He may have arrived at Milan with the air of a conquering hero, showered with affection and given the Captain’s armband, but here he was more like a naughty schoolboy, sheepishly entering the room behind the press officer, wearing a club suit and for once looking devoid of confidence. Home again, but suddenly unsure where anything was kept.
Taking his seat on the podium, the inevitable question about how he – a man who was booed last season while playing in Turin for Milan, then responded by (rightly) celebrating his goal against Juve – would go about repairing the relationship he had ruined with Bianconeri supporters everywhere.
“I accept the whistles and jeers from fans,” replied Bonucci. “When they come from my opponents they fire me up, but when they come from my fans it’ll be up to me to turn those whistles into applause. My answer will come on the pitch because I’m a professional. If I got an offer to leave Juventus again today I wouldn’t even think about it.”
He went on to speak of taking his play regressing during his year away, something that former Milan team-mate Suso had also discussed in an interview with Marca last week. “We lose leadership and experience,” the Spanish winger responded when asked about Bonucci’s departure. “He brought many things to a very young team but he felt he took a backward step signing for Milan and for that reason, he returned to Juventus.”
Given the problems in the red-and-black half of San Siro last term, that is understandable, but with Allegri, plus new club Captain Giorgio Chiellini (33), Andrea Barzagli (37), Turin native Claudio Marchisio (32), World Cup winners Sami Khedira and Blaise Matuidi, a veteran warrior like Mario Mandzukic and of course Ronaldo, Juve have leadership and experience in abundance.
So what does Bonucci add? The answer, quite simply, is quality. While Barzagli, Chiellini and Medhi Benatia are all fine defenders, none possess the all-around impact of the player who is rejoining them. Only Chiellini is a better man-marker, but none of that trio are as effective in possession, something that is not only limited to those raking long balls that cut out opposing midfields.
Last season’s Champions League adventure didn’t end at the Bernabeu when Benatia felled Lucas Vazquez in the 97th minute, in truth it actually came to a screeching halt a week earlier when Real Madrid won 3-0 at Juventus Stadium. Enjoying 56% possession and inflicting the heaviest defeat the Bianconeri had suffered at home in over seven years, they ran riot, the Italian side unable to get the ball out from the back as Barzagli, Chiellini, Kwadwo Asamoah and Gigi Buffon could barely string two passes together.
Time and time again, the visitors harried and pressed them into mistakes, so much so that many fans wondered aloud whether Allegri should’ve opted for Wojciech SzczÄ™sny over Buffon solely because his distribution is better. Now Bonucci, who is certainly a better defender than Benatia or – at this stage of his career – Barzagli, will also be able to alleviate that problem against the very best opponents, while shining against the lesser ones too.
Bonucci may never again be welcomed in the Curva Sud, but his arrival, particularly at the expense of Caldara, ensures the Bianconeri must win and win now, but he knows it has always been that way.
“I’ve digested things and thought about them,” he continued at Thursday’s press conference. “Juventus was everything for me as a footballer and a human being in all those years, We parted with a handshake, perhaps because I knew in my heart that what has happened now could happen. So I start a new challenge with an enthusiasm I didn’t have before, now I feel better and I want to recover everything and have the chance to test myself against the best every day.”
He almost certainly will, and how he responds to that challenge will determine how long it takes for those whistles to once again become cheers. One thing is certain however; if he helps Juventus win the Champions League for the first time since 1996, nobody in black and white will jeer Leonardo Bonucci again.
