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Juventus have extended the contract of Italy international defender Leonardo Bonucci until 2021. Bonucci, 29, had been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester City both credited with an interest, but has followed in the footsteps of Stefano Sturaro and Daniele Rugani, who penned new deals last week. "I've extended my contract until 2021," Bonucci told Juve's official website. "I'm pleased and proud to continue our victorious, successful journey until 2021. "It's definitely a great feeling. I feel an important part of one big family. You achieve this by working hard and always being there for your teammates, helping out when the going gets tough and celebrating all together in successful periods." Bonucci has been part of the successful Bianconeri side who have won five straight Serie A titles, and who are on course for a record-breaking sixth Scudetto next summer, having earned his first league winners' medal with Inter Milan in 2006. He has also won the Coppa Italia three times, but is not satisfied with what he has already achieved. "We've won so much over the last few years and we know that going forward it will be harder than ever to get results," he added. "That said, life would be dull if you didn't have something great to fight for. Our aim is therefore to play to win every match and lift lots of trophies between now and 2021 and, who knows, perhaps even beyond. "I've always said I'll only stop improving when I hang up my boots. Sure it's a cliche but it definitely sums up my desire to get better, to consistently look at myself in the mirror and never give up. At Juventus I've met some incredible people both from a technical, tactical and footballing perspective and from a moral standpoint. "They've helped me to grow, from the coaches that I've played under to the current one, the president and individuals like [vice-president Pavel] Nedved, [sporting director Fabio] Paratici and [general manager Beppe] Marotta, who help you so much on a personal level, to my teammates in the dressing room. "We're a lovely happy family. I'm so keen to get back in action and be available for the coach and my teammates and keep winning things for this club." Bonucci will do that on Friday, when he bids to win a fourth Italian Supercoppa by beating AC Milan in Doha. And that is not all he has his sights set on. "I obviously have a lot of goals, clearly to become even more of a legend at this club, to improve personally and maintain the passion I have within me," he said. "It shows I'm ready to improve at this moment in time because the best is yet to come. I'm at the peak of my powers and I'm up here to be shot at so it's up to me to withstand the pressure. "All that remains is to keep going, with humility, hard work and the desire to constantly improve. Looking forward, I will have even more responsibility due to this great new deal, but I just see that as an advantage and motivation on a daily basis, in every training session and match to give that bit extra for this team, which really feels like my club." Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano said in October that Bonucci had contacted his club in the summer about the possibility of a move to the Etihad Stadium. Bonucci also had been linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer, but by signing a new contract he has distanced rumours the Blues' manager Antonio Conte, who coached the player both for Juve and Italy, may make a fresh approach this winter. Bonucci appears to be as committed as ever to the Bianconeri, as he also expressed in a tweet. "I've decided the home where I have become big amongs the biggest," he wrote. "[I have] just one objective: to continue to win!"
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