Former Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci has reportedly demanded his reinstatement by the club after being told he was not in their plans for next season. The veteran defender was informed by Bianconeri directors that he would not be playing for the team next season, and was free to look for a new club this summer.
La Gazzetta dello Sport now report that the 36-year-old has asked his lawyer to intervene, resulting in a ‘warning’ to Juve management and a certified mail being sent to the club, requesting the defender’s reinstatement in Allegri’s squad.
The response from the club was almost immediate: Juventus have made a technical choice and believes it is providing the best conditions for the player to train. In other words, there would be no change in their stance, despite the legal overtures from Bonucci.
Bonucci still has a number of options before him, according to Gazzetta: He would be in a position to sue Juve before the arbitration board. He could also have his contract terminated (he has a year left on his contract and a €6 million net salary), but it is more plausible that he would ask for compensation, which in his case may exceed €2 million.
This option is established in the collective agreement of Serie A players, which tends to protect members who end up outside the squad. The rules do not go into the merits of technical choices, but tend to ensure preparation with the rest of the squad.
Right now, however, Bonucci trains at different times than the first team along with the other redundant players. For the moment, the former captain wants the chance to end his career with the Bianconeri.
