The Juventus team and manager Massimiliano Allegri have come under fire from Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci for how they handled his departure. This follows Bonucci’s recent deal to Bundesliga team Union Berlin during the just-completed summer transfer window.

For fabricating rumours regarding his potential future while at Allianz Stadium, Bonucci has blamed his previous team and management. Contrary to media reports, the Euro 2020 champion claimed that the Old Lady remained unsure of his future and that they made their choice extremely late in the transfer window.

The debacle in the summer left Bonucci furious, and he labelled it all the worst disgrace of his playing career. Leonardo Bonucci was cited as saying, according to the Italian publication Mediaset (via Fabrizio Romano), “Manager (Allegri) reported some fake stories. It’s not true that Juventus told me months ago, in October and in February, about their intention to part ways with me.”

The Italian defender spoke about staying loyal to the club and helping out the future prospects for the side. He said,”In May, I told Juventus board that I was open to stay as 5/6th choice to help all their young players. Juventus directors only told me on July 13 that I was out of their project… after rumors in the newspapers. This was the biggest humiliation I’ve suffered.”

The Euro 2020 champion asserted that he had personally heard rumours about his departure from the team. Therefore, the hierarchy never intended to keep the defender inside the club.

He said,“I’ve smelled something by reading it in the newspapers, that I would no longer be part of the Juventus squad and that my presence would hinder the growth of the team. This was the humiliation I suffered after more than 500 games in Bianconero… everyone showed me their closeness for the disrespectful behavior of the club.”