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Why is Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci taking legal action against former club Juventus?
Veteran Bonucci played over 500 games for Juve across two spells but left to join Champions League side Union Berlin this summer.
The cloud under which Leonardo Bonucci left Juventus earlier this summer has just got a whole lot darker. The central defender moved to surprise Champions League qualifiers Union Berlin at the end of the transfer window after being informed that he would not be part of the Italian giants’ plans for the 2023-24 season. Now, La Gazzetta dello Sport, has reported the 36-year-old plans to take his former employers to court because of the way he has been treated by them in recent months.
Bonucci denied access to Juve facilities
Bonucci claims he has suffered professional and reputational damages as a result of not being afforded adequate conditions in which to train, breaking a collective agreement established by the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC). After being frozen out of the first-team picture, the veteran was forced to train at different times to the rest of the roster and never coincided with manager Max Allegri or his coaching staff.
The Italy captain was denied access to the gym, swimming pool and restaurant at Juventus’ training facilities, which was the final straw leading to his departure.
Bonucci to donate compensation to NGO and non-profit organsiation
Bonucci has stated that if he wins the court case, he will donate the compensation he receives to Neuroland, an NGO which supports the families of children hospitalised at the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Hospital Regina Margherita in Turin, as well as Live Onlus, which buys defibrillators and donates them to sports associations, schools and municipalities.