Leonardo Bonucci has revealed he did have the chance to join Manchester United but he preferred a return to his old club Juventus.
Signing a top class defender was one of Jose Mourinho’s priorities and the gaffer made his intentions aware to United chief executive Ed Woodward. But much to his ire, the club failed to sanction a move for any of the preferred targets.
Bonucci moved to AC Milan last season but he had a very underwhelming campaign which saw his stock downgraded at the San Siro. Juventus decided to recall their player in a deal which also included Mattia Caldara and Gonzalo Higuain.
Higuain arrived at Milan on an initial loan deal and they have the option to make it permanent in the next season.
Bonucci said,”Basically there have been some possibilities both with Manchester City and with Manchester United.
“With Manchester City when I received that offer (in 2016) I actually talked to the club, I talked to Juventus and we decided that it was good for me to stay and to keep on winning with Juventus.
“And this year when I was told there was a possibility to go back home, to come back to Juventus I just stopped listening to any other offers and I decided to come back here.’
“The decision was not made until June but it’s true that I had this feeling inside me. So when my agent told me there was a tangible opportunity to go back I just stopped listening to anyone telling me what to do, I stopped listening to any kind of suggestion and I just said “OK, let’s go home”.’
