Leonardo Bonucci

[domalino]

find it very strange that we would be seemingly prepared to pay £51m for 29 year old defender but not around £60m for Aubameyang for example.

Boatengs long passes out of defence were a really important part of how Guardiola beat teams who would press Bayern last season.

Bonucci is probably the only CB who could say he's better at those passes and going into a league with Pochettino, Klopp, Ranieri all employing aggressive pressing in midfield, Pep might be thinking he really needs that option.

There's a good write up of how he used these long balls from Boateng to beat Dortmund 5-1 here - http://www.zonalmarking.net/2015/10...witches-width-and-long-balls-expose-dortmund/

And it's also just a cool read because it was an absolute blinder by Pep, showing all the kind of tactical nouse we've not had here before.

Anyway, my point is simply - we can buy goals for cheaper than £60m and from players better suited to Pep's play. Maybe not 40 goals like Auba had, but we can get them elsewhere.

But a passing CB of Bonucci's quality can't be for for less than £50m it seems. That's what Everton want for stones, and Laporte turned us down, so Bonucci offers the finished article for the same price as the kids with potential

 

[MillionDollarDream]

Hopefully we deal with the rest of our transfer business and deal with Juve later because it seems futile dealing with them over an Italian/Pogba. Same story last few seasons with them and Champions League being the reason only to fall further and further away from the prize. Hope Juve get knocked out in the group stages,

 

[TonyM]

I hope they fall down the stairs.

 

[Andouble]

I hope they fall down the stairs.

I have nothing but respect for a club that is willing to turn down near 200 million euros in one day.

 

[TonyM]

I have nothing but respect for a club that is willing to turn down near 200 million euros in one day.

Maybe just a trip up the stairs so.

 

[Dax777]

I really don't think any CB in the world is better than Boateng pinging the ball out of the back. He does it with both feet equally. He is sometimes error prone but he is better than even Bonnuci at picking deep passes.

 

[JamesRodriguez10]

Bonucci is good only in the catenaccio like all the defenders of Juve, in a defense with 3 mans and with two defensive midfielders.

 

[SWP's back]

Bonucci is good only in the catenaccio like all the defenders of Juve, in a defense with 3 mans and with two defensive midfielders.

So like Pep likes to play with, three at the back and a double pivote?

 

[KCblue]

Would be a great signing. Not sure why some think that fee is too much for a 29 year old, I'd rather spend the money on a player at his peak than another inexperienced CB, we have enough of those.

Exactly this. If we're alright with spending the money we did on Otamendi and Mangala, why not spunk out this amount for someone of Bonucci's ilk?

find it very strange that we would be seemingly prepared to pay £51m for 29 year old defender but not around £60m for Aubameyang for example.

Bonucci would be first choice when fit. Aubameyang plays the same position as arguably our best player. Also has been one of the best in his position for a longer period of time.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Bonucci is good only in the catenaccio like all the defenders of Juve, in a defense with 3 mans and with two defensive midfielders.

You can guarantee this can you?