Leonardo Bonucci has revealed that he rejected Real Madrid to re-join Juventus and urged his side not to ‘hide’ against Atletico Madrid.
Juve take on Atleti in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, and Bonucci spoke to the Spanish Press about their secret to success, Cristiano Ronaldo, facing former teammate Alvaro Morata and links with Real last summer.
“How do I feel? I’m fine, I’m ready,” the defender told AS.
Leonardo Bonucci has revealed that he rejected Real Madrid to re-join Juventus and urged his side not to ‘hide’ against Atletico Madrid.
Juve take on Atleti in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, and Bonucci spoke to the Spanish Press about their secret to success, Cristiano Ronaldo, facing former teammate Alvaro Morata and links with Real last summer.
“How do I feel? I’m fine, I’m ready,” the defender told AS.
“I no longer feel any pain: I’ve worked hard day and night with the medical staff over the last two weeks. Literally.
“Returning to Juventus to reform the ‘BBC’? Yes, our secret is very simple: we have fun, we enjoy defending.
“We try to help each other and each of us manages to enhance the other’s strengths. Would I like to face Buffon in the Champions League? I’d rather not.
“Gigi is a real No 1 on the field, but above all he’s a great friend. I grew up with him, it’s strange to look behind and not see him.
“Still, we’re lucky at Juve because Szczesny is one of the best goalkeepers around and Perin is growing quickly.
“Seven Scudetti in a row and now 13 points clear of Napoli? It’s not as easy as it seems. The level of Italian football has grown.
“I’ll be honest: there was a moment when Juventus were far too superior to the others. We’d play Napoli, Inter and Milan and felt we’d win without problems, but now it’s not like that.
“In the last two or three seasons, Napoli have particularly come a long way and they’ve made us suffer.
“Dybala? I see him in a good way and more mature now. Whether he scores or not doesn’t worry him anymore. He works for the team and that’s important.
“He’s still young and he’ll give us so much in the final part of the season. CR7? When he arrived I wasn’t really happy, given I was still his rival…
“All jokes aside, he’s a good thing for all of Italian football. If the best player in the world joins, it means our League is back to being attractive.
“I also admire him, in terms of his consistency and simplicity. He immediately made himself available to the group, he’s always supportive and I was really amazed by his way of working: every day, before and after training, you find him in the gym.
“I work like that too, but there are days when maybe you can’t make it. He’s always in there. He’s a machine and he doesn’t stop. You can only admire him.
“Objective to win the Champions League? If Cristiano arrives, the best player in the world, it means our bar has risen.
“Our objective is to win the Champions League. We can’t and must not hide. Atleti are like Juventus, Allegri always says that titles are won by defences.
“Morata? He’s a friend, but I’ve already warned him: ‘As soon as you enter the field, I’ll give you a piece of me…’ He replied: ‘Like you always do!’
“Is it true that I rejected Real Madrid? Yes, it is: Real Madrid looked at me and it was a source of pride and a pleasure to be an objective for them.
“it means that I’ve worked well over the years. The call of Juventus, however, and my desire to feel at home again took my heart and let me decide that the Bianconeri were better for me.”