Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci says he will take legal action against his former club Juventus after a dispute with coach Massimiliano Allegri reportedly led to his recent exit.
Bonucci, who spent 12 years in Turin over two spells, was not included in Allegri’s squad for the United States’ pre-season tour and home friendlies before their Serie A opener on August 20.
He agreed to terminate his contract with Juve to facilitate a move to Bundesliga club Union Berlin, on a one-year deal on deadline day.
“I have decided, after tremendous suffering, to take the route of a lawsuit against Juventus,” Bonucci told Sport Mediaset in an interview published on Thursday as quoted by ESPN.
“My right is that I have to train with the team, whatever the technical options, and be in a position to be able to play physically next season,” he continued.
“This wasn’t given to me, I no longer train with the team. I feel drained of everything, humiliated, I can’t do what I love most.”
Bonucci said he felt no regrets towards his former club or sought financial reward, and if he won the legal battle he would donate all the proceeds to charity.
“I have nothing against Juventus. Juventus are my fans, team, former teammates,” said Bonucci.
I am pursuing this goal because the people who should have allowed me to end my career with Juventus in an honorable and dignified manner, did not.
Bonucci had announced in May this year that he would retire from football in June 2024 after his contract at Juventus expired.
An extended absence from training resulted in Bonucci not being called up to Italy this month by new coach Luciano Spalletti, who informed the defender of his decision privately before making his list official.
“I want to continue playing and making things difficult for Spalletti for the national team,” said Bonucci.
“His phone call telling me that he would not call me for this last game…, that was a gesture that I really appreciated, it showed the depth of his humanity, his sincerity.
“Because I didn’t have a good pre-season, he couldn’t call me up for the Azzurri. I expected that, I’m not stupid. But I feel the national team shirt on my skin like the one Juventus wears. I’ll do whatever I can.” can use it.”
Bonucci added that his hope is to return to Juventus one day as a coach.
“When I decided to start coaching, I thought about my path well,” he said.
“Surely Juventus, when I become coach, will not be what it is today and maybe there will be a way, one day, to reach the fans again, to greet them and make them understand how important Juventus is to me. one of these days that I feel is not mine.”
