Union Berlin: Talks with Juventus veteran Leonardo Bonucci are progressing

Doesn’t matter at Juve anymore

Union Berlin could soon sign the next top-class player. Negotiations with long-time Italian international Leonardo Bonucci (36) and his club Juventus are progressing, as are the Italian transfer experts Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano to report. Now it’s up to the player to seal the contract. This week will be decisive for that.








rumor

L Bonucci

Juventus
centre-back




Juventus
Juventus

46%


1. FC Union Berlin
Union Berlin
Series ABundesliga


Union had recently caused a stir with the commitments of Robin Gosens (29) from Inter Milan and Kevin Volland (31) from AS Monaco. Bonucci could form an experienced leading trio with the German internationals when the “Iron” took part in the Champions League for the first time.

Gosens moves to the top: the most expensive additions to Union Berlin

18 Marius Bülter | 2020/21 for €1.5m from 1. FC Magdeburg

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As of August 18, 2023

17 Sebastian Polter | 2016/17 for €1.6m from QPR

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16 Anthony Ujah | 2019/20 for €2m from Mainz 05

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13 Sven Michel | 2021/22 for €2.5m from SC Paderborn

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13 Marvin Friedrich | 2019/20 for €2.5 million from FC Augsburg

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13 Tymoteusz Puchacz | 2021/22 for €2.5m from Lech Poznan

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12 Aïssa Laïdouni | 2022/23 for €2.6m from Ferencváros

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11 Mike Kaufman | 2023/24 for €2.7m from FC Copenhagen

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10 Morten Thorsby | 2022/23 for €3m from Sampdoria

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9 Lucas Tousart | 2023/24 for €3m from Hertha BSC

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8 Robert Andrich | 2019/20 for €3.15 million from Heidenheim

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6 Kevin Volland | 2023/24 for €4m from AS Monaco

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6 Jamie Lewelling | 2022/23 for €4m from Greuther Fürth

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5 Jordan | 2022/23 for €6m from BSC Youngs Boys

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4 Diogo Leite | 2022/23 for €7.5m from FC Porto

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2 Taiwo Awoniyi | 2021/22 for €8.55m from Liverpool

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Includes 10 per cent resale share in Liverpool on move to Nottingham Forest (€2.05m)

2 Josip Juranovic | 2022/23 for €8.55m from Celtic

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1 Robin Gosens | 2023/24 for up to €13m from Inter Milan

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The former Bianconeri captain no longer plays a role in Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri’s plans and was recently excluded from the squad. The 2021 European champion still has a valid contract until next summer. He actually wanted to end his career at the club for which he played 502 times and where he is one of the top 10 players in the record list.

Bonucci would not be set at Union Berlin either – the Champions League factor

Bonucci was not a seed for Juventus last season and only played 26 times for 1,517 minutes – also due to injury. In Berlin, too, a regular place would not be guaranteed, as the back three of Robin Knoche (31), Diogo Leite (24) and Danilho Doekhi (25) established themselves last year and played a major role in the successful season. Especially for the games in the “premier class” Bonucci would be a factor that the “iron” in the internationally inexperienced squad could use well.

Bonucci has also long been linked with Serie A rivals Lazio. Union fan “Parensen” speculates in the rumor mill: “I rather think that he has already earned very well in his long and enormously successful career. He just doesn’t want to stop yet. And in order not to jeopardize his status as a Juve legend, he does not want to move within Seria A. Since a later career as a coach is also possible for him, a station abroad would also be important and good for him as an experience. You can’t go wrong with an annual contract with an extension clause.”

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At first I also thought “What does Union want with Bonucci” but the more opinions I’ve read here, the more sense it makes.
The negative facts about the transfer would be his age and the associated susceptibility to injuries, which was also shown last season. He was only 9 times in the starting XI and on 12 matchdays he was injured. Bonucci is a tough defender but he’s not getting any younger so you’ll inevitably have to reckon with various downtimes…

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