by Kingseyi Thu Jul 26, 2018 6:59 pmAC Milan’s new sporting director
Leonardo revealed Thursday that team
captain Leonardo Bonucci wants to return
to Juventus just one season after signing
for the club from the Serie A champions.
“I’ve met with a range of clubs, including
Juventus,” the Brazilian said at a press
conference in which he was unveiled in his new
role at Milan.
“The desire (to talk to Juve) came from him, so
if the conditions are right, we’ll try to make it
happen.”
On Tuesday coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted
that Bonucci wants to leave Milan, who could
only finish sixth last season despite spending
over 200 million euros ($233 million) on new
players last summer — of which 42 million euros
were reportedly spent on the Italian international
centre-back.
However Leonardo’s announcement was
confirmation of reports that he wanted to return
to Turin, where he won six league titles and
reached two Champions League finals with Juve.
Bonucci’s potential departure shows that the
troubled times are not yet over for AC Milan
despite being readmitted to next season’s
Europa League last week, thanks to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport overturning a season-long
ban for violating UEFA’s financial fair play rules.
American hedge fund Elliott Management took
over Milan earlier this month after the club’s
former Chinese owners, long rumoured to be
struggling financially, failed to repay 32 million
euros lent by Elliott to finance the final
instalment of two capital increases worth a total
of 120 million euros.
Elliot has pledged to inject 50 million euros to
bring financial stability to the seven-time
European champions.
Leonardo, a former Milan player admitted that
Milan wouldn’t be making any big moves in the
summer transfer market and said that Gattuso
would remain coach despite rumours of Antonio
Conte replacing him.
Gattuso stabilised the club last season after
stepping up from youth team coach to replace
sacked Vincenzo Montella in late November,
with Milan in disarray place after losing six of
their opening 14 matches.
He took his side to the Italian Cup final, where
they were soundly beaten 4-0 by Juve, who
conquered their fourth straight domestic double.
“I and the club agree. Gattuso was the first
person to be confirmed,” Leonardo said.
“He is a coach who is constantly developing, he
is a Milan man and it’s with him that we will
begin.”
AFP
Leonardo revealed Thursday that team
captain Leonardo Bonucci wants to return
to Juventus just one season after signing
for the club from the Serie A champions.
“I’ve met with a range of clubs, including
Juventus,” the Brazilian said at a press
conference in which he was unveiled in his new
role at Milan.
“The desire (to talk to Juve) came from him, so
if the conditions are right, we’ll try to make it
happen.”
On Tuesday coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted
that Bonucci wants to leave Milan, who could
only finish sixth last season despite spending
over 200 million euros ($233 million) on new
players last summer — of which 42 million euros
were reportedly spent on the Italian international
centre-back.
However Leonardo’s announcement was
confirmation of reports that he wanted to return
to Turin, where he won six league titles and
reached two Champions League finals with Juve.
Bonucci’s potential departure shows that the
troubled times are not yet over for AC Milan
despite being readmitted to next season’s
Europa League last week, thanks to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport overturning a season-long
ban for violating UEFA’s financial fair play rules.
American hedge fund Elliott Management took
over Milan earlier this month after the club’s
former Chinese owners, long rumoured to be
struggling financially, failed to repay 32 million
euros lent by Elliott to finance the final
instalment of two capital increases worth a total
of 120 million euros.
Elliot has pledged to inject 50 million euros to
bring financial stability to the seven-time
European champions.
Leonardo, a former Milan player admitted that
Milan wouldn’t be making any big moves in the
summer transfer market and said that Gattuso
would remain coach despite rumours of Antonio
Conte replacing him.
Gattuso stabilised the club last season after
stepping up from youth team coach to replace
sacked Vincenzo Montella in late November,
with Milan in disarray place after losing six of
their opening 14 matches.
He took his side to the Italian Cup final, where
they were soundly beaten 4-0 by Juve, who
conquered their fourth straight domestic double.
“I and the club agree. Gattuso was the first
person to be confirmed,” Leonardo said.
“He is a coach who is constantly developing, he
is a Milan man and it’s with him that we will
begin.”
AFP
