Legendary Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci has completed a shock move from Juventus to their league rivals AC Milan.
Bonucci’s relationship with Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri deteriorated over the course of the last season following several bust-ups and the Italian defender opted for a new challenge with the Rossoneri.
Bonucci is happy with life in Italy and had rubbished all rumours linking him with a move to either Chelsea or Manchester City.
This explains why Milan might succeed in roping him in for such a relatively small fee.
? | Bonucci and Biglia arrive for their medical testspic.twitter.com/zdoUVoQWue
— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) July 15, 2017
The 30-year-old defender has completed a medical and will sign a five-year contract at San Siro, Milan announced on Friday evening.
Milan will pay a fee of around €40 million (£35million) – and this has shocked everyone as the transfer fee is too low for a player who is regarded as one of the best defenders in the world and having penned a new contract with the Old Lady just last season.
The Rossoneri released an official statement that read: “AC Milan have reached an agreement with Juventus FC for the permanent transfer of Leonardo Bonucci, subject to medical completion.
Should the player pass the medical examination in the next few days, he will join the Club penning a five-year contract.”
A video published on Twitter showed Bonucci arriving at the Casa Milan headquarters at around 2pm local time (1pm BST) on Friday, and his car was greeted by around 200 excited fans.
Bonucci started his career at Inter Milan as a youngster before rising through the ranks to earn a call-up in the senior team – where he made only one substitute appearance in the league along with a handful of Coppa Italia matches. Later he moved on to Juventus in 2010 and proved his class to earn a legendary status.
He went on to win six Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia trophies and three Supercoppa Italiana with the Old Lady over the course of seven years.
It is understood that he will disappoint fans of two different clubs by joining arch rivals AC Milan this summer.
After starting his career at Inter, Bonucci went on loan to Serie B clubs Treviso and Pisa before joining Genoa in 2009. But he was immediately sent back to Bari in a co-ownership deal.
The Italian centre-back played a pivotal role in his one season with Bari before being roped in by Juventus.
Bonucci was one of the pillars of a solid three-man Juventus defence alongside Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli for so long.
Juventus have loads of young talent, who can step into his shoes but losing the world-class defender would still be a huge blow up on the face.
Milan’s new Chinese owners have been busy splurging cash this summer to bolster the squad as they are desperate to challenge for the title in the upcoming season.
They have already rope in Andre Silva, Ricardo Rodriguez, Hakan Calhanoglu, Andrea Conti, Mateo Musacchio, Franck Kessie, Fabio Borini – and now Bonucci awaiting a medical.
Bonucci and Biglia’s medical tests are over [via @cmdotcom]pic.twitter.com/Ys5G9e4er8
— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) July 15, 2017
Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia has agreed personal terms with Milan and is due to complete a medical. Dortmund’s prolific striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has also been linked with a move to the San Siro this summer.