Leonardo Bonucci linked with a return to Juventus because why the heck not

Fabio Paratici, Juventus’ extremely good sporting director, has apparently decided not to go with the team on its United States tour for the first time since he joined the club seven years ago. It’s mostly because he has plenty of work to do in terms of potential transfers, mainly possible departures (like Gonzalo Higuain).

But we’re now hearing a wild report of a signing Juventus could make.

According to SportItalia — so, there’s your warning to acquire a grain of salt or two — Juventus are in advanced talks with Milan to re-sign Leonardo Bonucci this summer. Yes, the same Leonardo Bonucci who said that he wanted to leave Juventus last summer and has not necessarily spoke at Juve in glowing terms since he was first unveiled at Milanello 12 months ago. The same Leonardo Bonucci who, per Beppe Marotta’s rule of the club not forcing a player to stay, chose to leave for what he perceived to be greener pastures in Milan.

Yeah, that Leonardo Bonucci.

Is it crazy? Yeah, sure.

Is it, at least right now, very unlikely? Yeah, sure.

But, then again, that’s what I thought at the beginning of all the Cristiano Ronaldo rumors earlier this month, too, so who the hell am I to judge things, right?

Milan may be under new ownership, but there seems to be plenty of issues surrounding the club as it tries to get back on its feet following the mess that has been the last handful of seasons. Bonucci, who has also been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in recent days, was brought in amongst Milan’s 21017 summer spending spree to be one of the leaders that righted the ship.

If reports are to be believed, then he’s obviously having some doubts about the direction Milan is going in right now. (I would be, too. for the record.)

Milan manager Genaro Gattuso said this when asked about the transfer rumors surrounding his team’s captain:

I’ve talked to him. Leo’s a great professional and an incredible player, but we must listen to the players too. After that, we’ll see.

I can only speak well of him until now, for what he’s given and giving, but at certain times choices must be respected: when a footballer behaves like a great guy, there will never be any grudge on my part.

He wants to win, but so do we. I know what we said and the club know what we said. Now we wait because he’s an important player, who we want to keep at all costs.

(Source: AC Milan Offside, via Football Italia)

So there’s that.