Leonardo Bonucci: Links to Chelsea are ‘just gossip’

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has admit speculations linking him with Chelsea are purely media rumours.

The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to London to his former coach Antonio Conte. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is also a well-known admirer for the Italian, but Bonucci has four years left to run on his contract in Turin.

Bonucci agent is reported to have been spotted in London, but when asked about that his visit to London, Bonucci told reporters: “It’s just gossip from you.”

The Blues are reported to be willing to offer him as much as €55 million, who agreed new terms with the Bianconeri only last December, when he was already being linked with a move to the Premier League.

After a clash with Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri earlier this year, Bonucci ruled out leaving Turin before the end of his contract in 2021.

“I don’t know if Allegri will move to the Premier League, but I am going to be a part of this club until 2021,” Bonucci said in March. “It is therefore up to the club if they want to keep me or send me away, but I hope to honour my contract.”

However, the following month he suggested that he could still be open to a move to England, saying the Premier League “fascinates” him and that Pep Guardiola’s praise was “nice.” Meanwhile, teammate Giorgio Chiellini backed Bonucci to stay with Juve next season.

“I’ll bet anything you want on Leo staying at Juve,” Tuttosport reports Chiellini as saying.

“We can’t deprive ourselves of a player like him. I’m certain he’s still going to be one of the pillars of Juve.”