Manchester City to bid £51m for Juventus defender

– Manchester City will make an improved bid for Leonardo Bonucci
– Pep Guardiola says the defender is one of his favorite players ever
– Guardiola worried by the form of Mangala and injury record of Kompany
Manchester City are considering upping their bid for Juventus defender Leonardo
Bonucci to €60m (£51m).
Pep Guardiola, is a big fan of the centre-back and described him in February as “one
of my favourite ever players” following Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Juventus in the
Champions League.

Leonardo Bonucci

Juventus do not want to sell Bonucci but a bid in the region of €60m may be

difficult for the Serie A champions to reject.

Guardiola views the defender as an automatic first choice should he be signed with

the defender impressing in Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign, and would bring technical

ability and vast experience to City’s side.

Guardiola is worried about the injury record of club captain Vincent Kompany.

With Martín Demichelis having departed, the other at the back are Eliaquim Mangala,

who has disappointed since joining from Porto for £42m two years ago, Argentina’s

Nicolás Otamendi, and the untested Jason Denayer who has spent the past two

seasons on loan at Celtic and Galatasaray.

Artiz Adruiz of Spain is tackled by Leandro Bonucci of Italy

Bonucci has 62 caps, has won five Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia medals, and is

also a losing Champions League finalist, having played in the team that lost to

Barcelona in 2015.

At Juventus he forms part of the so-called BBC – alongside Andrea Barzagli and

Giorgio Chiellini at the back for Juventus which has been hailed as one of the best

centre-back pairings ever.