Leonardo Bonucci

[eversince 76]

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

Yes, but Pep plays a high line, Juve and Italy don't. I'm convinced Otamendi and Mangala will be seen as far better defenders when they play like Juve and Italy do. Unless Pep teach them to, but it seems he rather wants the club splashes out 50mill on a 29 year old defender. Not Pep like imo ...

 

[Akiva]

I keep reading posts which attempt to explain why this wouldn't be a really good signing and ultimately they all come down to "he's 29".

 

[Ajm1985]

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

Boateng employed those exact diagonal long balls to the left last night before his injury. Loew obviously saw the benefit of his skills and that tactic.

 

[1961_vintage]

Boateng employed those exact diagonal long balls to the left last night before his injury. Loew obviously saw the benefit of his skills and that tactic.

His distribution was outstanding. Unrecognisable as the player who once played for us.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Sky Sports News HQ ‏@SkySportsNewsHQ 9s9 seconds ago
Sky sources: Man City to hold talks with agent of Juventus defender Bonucci in next few days http://skysports.tv/eDPjDc

3 retweets0 likes

 

[Ajm1985]

His distribution was outstanding. Unrecognisable as the player who once played for us.

Definitely! I also think it's a shame Vinny is injured so often as he could definitely fulfil this role.

 

[BlueDejong]

 

[wattle]

Seeing him play in the euros i thought fuck me I wish we could sign him but thought no chance as there has been nothing in the press or Internet. Then boom! Looks like it might happen. Who gives a fuck about his age. I want to win the prem THIS season. Come on tixi, get this done

 

[johnmc]

Yeah he's 29. So what. 4 years of him or 4 years of Mangala?

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Yeah he's 29. So what. 4 years of him or 4 years of Mangala?

Not even close mate!;) Bonucci all day!!....The way I look at it is, pay 51mil for Bonucci and sell Mangala for 20-30mil.....Bonucci costing us 20mil ;) Bonucci and Peres would greatly improve our back 4....just not 100% sure Juve are going to let him go..

 

[kupest]

Not even close mate!;) Bonucci all day!!....The way I look at it is, pay 51mil for Bonucci and sell Mangala for 20-30mil.....Bonucci costing us 20mil ;) Bonucci and Peres would greatly improve our back 4....just not 100% sure Juve are going to let him go..

Or you can look at it like Mangala for 41 million, Bonnuci for 51 million and sell Mangala for 25 mill. total would be 67 million ;).

On a side note it is a ridiculous fee for a defender who is 29. But then the people running the club would know better.

 

[razman]

Sky running with 43m will be put in by city

 

[willipp]

Quality player and would make a huge difference immediately to us.

His age does worry me though. Its not just that he would need replacing in 3 or 4 years, but centre halves from what i can think decline quite quickly, cant think of many top CB's that keep going past 30 at the same level. On the other hand, if we were still to bring Stones in, Denayer stays, what better people to learn from than Bonucci and Vinnie.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Sorry, below report is google translate but they reporting his agent flew in yesterday and meeting set up for this morning....We offering 5year 8mil(euros) a year.....which is more than double his current salary....Still think Juve will just up his salary and keep him but like the fact we making the move...on a side note, Stones transfer gone silent...anyone think Everton playing hard ball and we moving on?


http://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercat...i-juve-senza-rilancio-dura-160273541665.shtml

City-Bonucci: offered 40 million in 5 years. Juve: no raise is tough
The Leo agent meets in Manchester English managers: proposed a super gig, he at Juventus takes 3.7 per season. It needs a touch up or become difficult to hold

July 8, 2016 - MILAN
The agent of Leonardo Bonucci has landed yesterday in Manchester, City bank. He is working on an offer the club Mansour from 60 million euro for Juventus and 40 million for the defender of the National (five-year, 8 million net per season). Already this morning, the representative of Leo might meet with British leaders in Manchester.
THE GREAT FEAR - The HCL society still considers unsellable Bonucci, but the engagement rumor inevitably likely to be quite dangerous for the leaders of Corso Galileo Ferraris, as the plant is already at the top with a salary of 3.7 million net per season (newly remodeled). In short, at 29 years old he arrives for Bonucci unique opportunity from all points of view: not only for the evident progress in financial terms, but also for the demanding flattery of a guru as Pep Guardiola. That's why Alessandro Lucci, precisely the representative of Leo, has had the mandate to beat this track without exceptions. And if Juve will not respond economically to the assault of the City, it could really become a problem detain him.

 

[Monkchester]

I am confused by the concerns about him being 29 yrs old . Ricardo Carvalho has been playing in the Euros for a team that has got to the final at 38 yrs of age. I am not suggesting Carvalho is the force he was but if he can play at that standard at that age why should we be concerned about buying a player at 29 especially when everyone seems to agree on Bonucci's quality and him being one of Peps favourites. For some people it seems players are either too young or too old but surely buying someone at or coming up to their peak is the way to go if we want to compete at the top level and in all the top competitions.

 

[richards30]

Well he is surely keen on the move if his agent is here?

 

[mancunial]

He's too old like Tony book [emoji3]

 

[Rammy Blue]

Trying not to get excited about this one, however the signs are looking good.

Fingers crossed.

 

[richards30]

Any truth in all this @Ric @tolmie's hairdoo ?

 

[dannyboiblue]

I was spitting my dummy out earlier in the thread as he was 29 but hes top of the pile as defenders come he will lead our back 4 like vinny and he looks like hes got years left in him.