After a half year
©IMAGO
Union Berlin managing director Oliver Ruhnert described him as a “prime example” of how a football manager cannot always be right with his transfers. Now the experiment with Italian defensive icon Leonardo Bonucci is over. After Fenerbahce documented the arrival of the 36-year-old veteran in Istanbul in the media, the move from the “Iron” to the “Yellow Canaries” was confirmed. Bonucci leaves the German capital with only ten competitive appearances for FCU and signed with Fenerbahce until the end of the season.
Bonucci only moved to the Bundesliga club from Juventus on a free transfer in the summer. At the beginning of December he publicly expressed his homesickness for Italy, but at the same time he also appeared combative in view of Union’s challenges in the second half of the season. Between the years, reports of an early farewell in the winter increased. An engagement with AS Roma, which was discussed shortly before the turn of the year, did not materialize. Instead, Fenerbahce nailed it. The most valuable central defender in the squad, Rodrigo Becão (27; market value 10 million euros), who came from Udinese in Italy in the summer for more than 8 million euros, has been missing since November due to a torn tendon.
“I certainly came to Union last summer with different ideas,” explained Bonucci: “Despite the sporting setbacks, it was an extraordinary time for me. Union is really a special club with a lot of closeness and cohesion. I would like to thank all Union members and wish them only the best for the future.”
Meanwhile, Union manager Ruhnert recently explained in an interview with “Sport Bild” that he was not disappointed with the European champions, who were sent to Berlin with great fanfare. “He came to us very late and was injured,” summed up the Köpenick official. “And there weren’t that many games in which he was weaker. I can only remember the game against Hoffenheim (0:2, Bonucci caused a penalty and was also involved in the second goal conceded, editor). He didn’t actually want to play at all, he didn’t feel completely fit, but he had to play, put himself at the service of the team – and then he didn’t look good. Basically, there is something crucial to say about Leonardo Bonucci. He is a very positive person and has a really good character. And I have rarely seen players with such merits who have integrated themselves so well and behaved as brilliantly as he did.”
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Bonucci’s successor at the “Iron” is ready; before the Italian’s departure was announced, the Köpenick team had already reported the signing of Kevin Vogt from TSG Hoffenheim (to the news).
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