Union Berlin’s Bonucci: “Nobody wanted to experience this situation”

Union defender’s balance sheet

For Union Berlin’s Leonardo Bonucci, the Champions League game at SSC Napoli will be no ordinary game. In advance, the 36-year-old European champion confirmed that his decision for Köpenick on Deadline Day was the right one and commented on the ongoing crisis at the capital city club, which has been without a win for twelve games.

Union is currently the weakest team in Europe’s top leagues and is in a relegation battle in the Bundesliga after being eliminated from the DFB Cup. “We have to play for our fans, we want to end this negative series. We didn’t expect it like that,” explained the Italian at a press conference on Tuesday evening. Bonucci has made five appearances in the league so far; he was not used in the first leg against Napoli in the premier class.

In recent weeks there have been reports that the right-footed player was dissatisfied with his situation after moving to the Spree and was spreading unrest in the team. The player and his teammates then clearly denied reports of this kind. When asked about his personal assessment after moving from Juventus, the defender explained: “Certainly none of us wanted to experience this situation here. But I am very, very happy with the choice. I have a wonderful experience with the coach, the group, the fans and the city. But: I live alone in Berlin and miss my wife and children.”

Bonucci to Kolo Muani: The top transfers on deadline day in summer 2023

Leonardo Bonucci | Juventus to Union Berlin | free of charge

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Market value: €1.5 million

Christopher Scott | Antwerp to Hannover 96 | Loan

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Market value: €1.5 million | Purchase option at around one million euros

Gonçalo Paciência | Celta Vigo to VfL Bochum | Loan

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Market value: €2 million

Reinier | Real Madrid to Frosinone | Loan

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Market value: €2 million

Oliver Burke | Werder to Birmingham | Loan

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Market value: €2.5 million

Michaël Cuisance | Venezia FC to VfL Osnabrück | Loan

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Market value: €3 million

Paul Wanner | FC Bayern to SV Elversberg | Loan

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Market value: €3 million

Kevin Mbabu | FC Fulham to FC Augsburg | Loan

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Market value: €3.5 million

Tommy Doyle | Man City to Wolverhampton | Loan

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Market value: €7 million

Japheth Tanganga | Tottenham to FC Augsburg | Loan

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Market value: €7 million | Purchase option: €5.5 million

Niels Nkounkou | AS St.-Étienne to Eintracht Frankfurt | Transfer fee: €7.5 million

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Market value: €5 million

Luka Jovic | AC Fiorentina to AC Milan | free of charge

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Market value: €8 million

Duvan Zapata | Atalanta to Torino | Loan

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Market value: €8 million

Rafael Borre | Frankfurt to Werder | Loan

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Market value: €9 million

Davy Klaassen | Ajax to Inter | free of charge

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Market value: €10 million

Anthony Rouault | FC Toulouse to VfB Stuttgart | Loan

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Market value: €10 million | Purchase option of €3 million, which can become an obligation to purchase

Sergio Reguilon | Tottenham to Man United | Loan

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Market value: €10 million

Clement Lenglet | FC Barcelona to Aston Villa | Loan

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Market value: €10 million

Altay Bayindir | Fenerbahce to Manchester United | Transfer fee: €5 million

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Market value: €11 million | Fener will receive 20 percent of the transfer fee in the event of a transfer

Borna Sosa | VfB Stuttgart to Ajax Amsterdam | Transfer fee: €10 million

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Market value: €12 million

Albert Sambi Lokonga | Arsenal to Luton Town | Loan

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Market value: €15 million

Callum Hudson Odoi | Chelsea to Nottingham | Transfer fee: €3.5 million

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Market value: €15 million | The transfer fee can increase by €2.3 million thanks to bonuses

Maxime Lopez | US Sassuolo to AC Fiorentina | Rental fee: €1 million

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Market value: €15 million | There is a purchase option worth €9 million

Jean Ricner Bellegarde | Strasbourg to Wolves | Transfer fee: €15 million

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Market value: €10 million

Anton Stach | Mainz 05 to TSG Hoffenheim | Transfer fee: €10 million

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Market value: €15 million

Odysseas Vlachodimos | Benfica to Nottingham | Transfer fee: €9 million

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Market value: €16 million

Nicolas Dominguez | Bologna to Nottingham | Transfer fee: €10 million

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Market value: €17 million

Nuno Tavares | Arsenal to Nottingham | Rental fee: €1.15 million

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Market value: €18 million | Purchase option is 14 million + €3 million bonuses

Boubakary Soumaré | Leicester City to Sevilla FC | Loan

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Market value: €20 million

Armel Bella Kotchap | Southampton to PSV Eindhoven | Loan

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Market value: €20 million

Luis Sinisterra | Leeds to Bournemouth | Loan

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Market value: €22 million

Hirving Lozano | SSC Napoli to PSV Eindhoven | Transfer fee: €12.2 million

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Market value: €25 million

Taylor Harwood Bellis | Man City to Southampton | Loan

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Market value: €25 million | Obligation to purchase upon promotion in the amount of 23.4 million euros

Alex Iwobi | Everton to Fulham | Transfer fee: €25.7 million

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Market value: €28 million

Ansu Fati | FC Barcelona to Brighton | Loan

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Market value: €35 million

Sofyan Amrabat | Fiorentina to Man United | Rental fee: €10 million

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Market value: €30 million

Ibrahim Sangaré | PSV Eindhoven to Nottingham | Transfer fee: €30 million

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Market value: €35 million

Ryan Gravenberch | FC Bayern to FC Liverpool | Transfer fee: €40 million

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Market value: €30 million

Cole Palmer | Man City to Chelsea | Transfer fee: €47 million

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Market value: €18 million

João Cancelo | Man City to FC Barcelona | Loan

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Market value: €50 million

João Felix | Atlético to FC Barcelona | Loan

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Market value: €50 million

Brennan Johnson | Nottingham to Tottenham | Transfer fee: €55 million

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Market value: €38 million

Matheus Nunes | Wolverhampton to Man City | Transfer fee: €62 million

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Market value: €45 million

Randal Kolo Muani | Eintracht Frankfurt to PSG | Transfer fee: €95 million

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Market value: €80 million

Unions Bonucci on SSC Napoli: Team “deserves respect”

“Playing for an Italian in Italy is always something emotional,” continued the central defender, who warned of the strengths of last season’s champions based on his personal experience in Serie A. “I was lucky enough to play against Napoli for many years. I have seen how the team has improved. She deserves respect. “She also showed her quality in the game against us: one chance, one goal,” emphasized Bonucci. The club, whose stadium is named after its most famous professional Diego Armando Maradona, is second in Group C with six points before the game behind Real Madrid (9). SC Braga is third with three points, Union is last with no points.

Coach Urs Fischer also promised that they would do everything they could to try and take away what was countable. He expects a host “who will step on the gas right from the start”. His team also has to be brave. If they lose again, the knockout phase is no longer achievable for Union after four defeats in the first four group games – something that has never happened to any German team before.

With Volland and Gosens: The most expensive additions from Union Berlin

16 Benedict Hollerbach | 2023/24 for €2 million from Wiesbaden

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As of September 6, 2023

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

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13 Sven Michel | 2021/22 for €2.5 million 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 €2.5 million from Lech Poznan

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

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11 Mikkel Kaufmann | 2023/24 for €2.7 million from Copenhagen

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10 Lucas Tousart | 2023/24 for €2.8 million from Hertha

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

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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 Leweling | 2022/23 for €4 million from Greuther Fürth

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

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

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

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Including resale share of 10 percent to Liverpool when moving to Nottingham Forest (€2.05 million)

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

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