Bonucci is one of the world’s best defenders currently. He possesses the vision and defensive prowess that few players can boast of having. Though the Serie A have few teams that can really test good defences like Juventus, the Italian centre half has impressed over time and how. After joining the Turin based club in 2010 for £15.5m, the Italian has grown from strength to strength.
Under the new leadership of manager Antonio Conte, Bonucci found his rhythm that was lost over the course of his first season in Turin. When Conte introduced the 3-5-2 formation with Bonucci at the heart of it with Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini on either side, the ex-Bari player rose to the occasion. This important defensive decision on Conte’s part helped Juventus win 3 successive Scudetti.
Bonucci’s ability and will to defend and position himself tactfully is very rare in modern day football. The ease he displays while in possession of the ball as a defender is commendable. A very strong attacking minded defender like him is just an added advantage and no better example of this can be cited than his final 50-meter ball to Italian attacker Giaccherini. The pass that the striker converted with ease giving Bonucci more to show for by letting him grab an assist.
“I have always tried that kind of ball,” he said after the game, “and doing it regularly leads to improvement, as I’ve done it quite a few times at Juventus and now for Italy.” To put it quite simply Bonucci is one of the best in the world and to foreword that thought, here is what Pep Guardiola had to say about him after squandering a 2-0 lead:
“Did you really think we could come here and expect to dominate for 90 minutes?” he asked. “Against a side with Pogba, Mandzukic, Morata, Buffon and Bonucci – who is one of my favourite ever players.”
