In a surprising turn of events, Italian footballer Leonardo Bonucci has announced legal action against his former football club, Juventus, after an alleged fallout with coach Massimiliano Allegri. This legal decision comes in the wake of Bonucci's omission from Allegri's squad during the US pre-season tour and various home-friendly matches before the Serie A season kicked off on August 20.
The famed Italian defender chose to terminate his contract with Juventus, which the club acquiesced to, subsequently leading to his swift move to Bundesliga team Union Berlin. Bonucci sealed a one-year deal with Union Berlin right on the transfer deadline day.
In an exclusive with Sport Mediaset, the 36-year-old confirmed his decision to pursue legal action against the club where he spent a significant chunk of his career. Spanning over 12 years, Bonucci's association with Juventus was in two separate tenures. The defender candidly expressed his disappointment, stating he felt denied a respectful end to his journey with the Turin-based team.
"I have decided, after great suffering, to take the path of a lawsuit towards Juventus. My rights stipulated that I should have trained with the team regardless of the technical choice. This was not granted to me, I no longer trained with the team. I felt drained of everything, humiliated, I couldn't do what I love most," said Bonucci.
Adding a noble twist to the tale, Bonucci declared his intention to donate any monetary gains from the lawsuit to charitable causes. This gesture indicates that his legal battle is driven by principle rather than financial gain.
"I have nothing against Juventus. Juventus are the fans, the team, my former team mates. I am pursuing this cause because the people who were supposed to let me end my career with Juventus in a respectful and worthy way have not done so," Bonucci added.
Bonucci's turbulent times didn't stop at club level. As a ripple effect of his exclusion from Juventus' training sessions, he missed out on a spot in the Italian national team. Head coach Luciano Spalletti chose to inform Bonucci privately about his omission before the official squad announcement.
With the world of football keenly watching, Bonucci's legal battle with Juventus promises to be a significant chapter in the storied history of both the player and the club.
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