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Bonucci: If I wanted to leave Juventus, I would've done it last year

REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

Leonardo Bonucci has no plans to leave Juventus any time soon.

Speaking after the Bianconeri's disappointing 1-1 draw with Udinese on Sunday - a match in which Bonucci was both roasted for the opening goal and atoned by scoring the equaliser - the Italian said if he was going to leave the Serie A giant, he would have done so last summer.

Related: Bonucci saves Juventus' blushes in rare league stalemate

The 29-year-old was rumoured to be a target of both Chelsea and Manchester City during the summer window; Pep Guardiola has long been an outspoken admirer of the ball-playing central defender, while a move to Stamford Bridge would reunite him with former boss Antonio Conte.

Speculation over his future has flared up again in light of his benching for the recent Champions League match against Porto - which stemmed from a row with Massimiliano Allegri - but Bonucci insists his future is in Turin.

"It’s all the same as before, I continue to fight for Juve and when needed can contribute with a goal. I am owned by the club, I have a contract with Juve to 2021 and feel important for the team, so I don’t see why there has to be a problem," he told Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset Premium, as quoted by Football Italia.

"If I wanted to leave Juventus, I would’ve pushed to do it last year, as I had important offers over the summer and had already started studying English.

"I am important to the team, but as we saw in Porto, nobody is indispensable. Nobody must feel comfortable here, as we need to give 100 percent in every training session to earn our place."

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