Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 7y

Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci: Row with Allegri 'useful for everybody'

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci said he has no hard feelings towards coach Massimiliano Allegri, insisting their recent falling out was mutually beneficial and that he wants to see out his contract at the club.

Bonucci was dropped and watched the Bianconeri's 2-0 win over Porto in the Champions League from the stands after being involved in a heated exchange with his coach towards the end of their Serie A fixture with Palermo four days earlier.

Allegri said that he would make a charitable donation for his part in the row and maintained that should be an end to the issue last week.

Having apologised to his manager, Bonucci has now spoken for the first time about the clash and praised Allegri for the way in which he dealt with it all.

"After clearing the air, things are going better than they were before," Bonucci said at an awards ceremony in quotes reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"For anything negative that happens, you must always draw something positive out of it. The best thing about this incident is that it has solidified the group even more. It was a trampoline for us to get even more in the right frame of mind and physical shape for the season's run-in.

"What happened on the eve of the game in Oporto was useful for me, for the dressing room and for everybody.

"It raised the levels of tension at a time when this was necessary. It worked out well. For me, it ended there just like it ended there for the coach. We cleared things up face to face. This decision was taken and I abided by it, which is how it should be. I still have to pay for a dinner next week."

Since the incident, there has inevitably been increased talk of Bonucci departing this summer with Chelsea, who showed an interest in the Italian defender last year, reportedly interested in making a bid.

But the 29-year-old does not see any reason why he should now be expected to leave Turin, however, saying he remains intent on seeing out his contract with the Old Lady.

"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. "It is therefore up to the club if they want to keep me or send me away, but I hope to honour my contract."

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