The 31-year-old is expected to become a Juventus player again by sundown Thursday.
Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci (Photo: Leonardo Bonucci/Twitter)
Leonardo Bonucci’s transfer to Juventus is now a mere formality with the Bianconeri uploading a video of the defender arriving at Turin for his medical on Thursday.
It’s going to be a straight swap, with striker Gonzalo Higuain going the other way in the deal and the Argentine striker is expected to be a Rossoneri player before next week.
Here’s the two-second clip, which has effectively confirmed the move:
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🛬 @bonucci_leo19 touches down in Turin. pic.twitter.com/71g0kF0ai1
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) August 2, 2018
Bonucci made a shock switch to Milan last year, as the Rossoneri sought to bring in a raft of signings to once again emerge as the biggest Italian club.
However, things did not go according to plan and the Bianconeri’s reign in Italy continued while Milan eventually finished a disappointing sixth.
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And the 31-year-old central defender had reportedly made his mind up long before the season ended that a return to Turin would be best for all parties involved.
Considering Juventus’s significant outlay in the transfer market, especially on one Cristiano Ronaldo, it was unlucky that the Bianconeri would splash the cash for their former player, but Higuain’s departure has facilitated the deal.
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With Ronaldo arriving in Turin, competition for the attacking spots increased tenfold, but perhaps more importantly, the club’s wage bill had gotten inflated to an unmanageable level and thus, the Argentine striker will move to the San Siro.
Bonucci’s been involved with Milan’s pre-season games this summer, but manager Gennaro Gattuso himself had admitted that the defender was keen on leaving and wouldn’t be stopped, if the price was right.
The Italy international won’t take time to slot right back in, however, with Gianluigi Buffon’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain, it remains to be seen if Massimiliano Allegri’s defence remains as watertight as before.
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