Leonardo Bonucci will be the new captain of Juventus following the announced departure of Giorgio Chiellini, Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed.
The Bianconeri head coach was speaking ahead of Juve's final home game of the season against Lazio and said he wants to "combine all three things", referring to playing well while saying goodbye to outgoing duo Chiellini and Paulo Dybala.
Chiellini confirmed he will leave Juventus at the end of the season following their 4-2 defeat to Inter in the Coppa Italia final.
The veteran centre-back has spent 17 years with the Bianconeri, winning 20 trophies during his time in Turin.
Dybala is also exiting the Allianz Stadium at the end of the campaign and has been linked with the likes of Inter, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester United.
"It's the last home game, you have to honour it to the fullest. And then it's Giorgio Chiellini's party and Paulo Dybala's last [game], we have to combine all three things," Allegri told reporters at a media conference on Sunday.
"They are two different things. Giorgio stops or has an experience in America, I don't know. Paulo changes team. Both will have the tribute of the fans, as I believe will [Lazio boss, Maurizio] Sarri, who returns and was the last [head coach] to win the Scudetto with Juve."
As for Juve's next skipper, Allegri added: "The new Juventus captain will be Bonucci."
The former Milan boss was also asked about Paul Pogba, who has been linked with a return to Juve once his contract at Manchester United expires next month.
"Pogba is a United player. Before talking about the transfer market, let's finish the season and then we'll take stock with the club," he said. "We don't have to evaluate not only the market but also what happened during the season at 360 degrees.
"[Do I] remember Paul? I have already forgotten, several years have already passed. I have a full memory card."
Allegri was asked to summarise the season, with Juve qualifying for the Champions League but never really challenging in the Serie A title race.
"I'm satisfied with the path and the goal, but not satisfied to have not won a trophy," he said.
"The team has done its best. Even if I always say, 'let's play with those who are here', in the long run we have paid for traumatic injuries: [Federico] Chiesa, [Weston] McKennie, Danilo, Bonucci… We have players who will certainly grow, then with the club we will improve the shortcomings of this team."
Nurnberg 3-0 Juventus: Motta's men thrashed in first pre-season friendly
Thiago Motta's first game in charge of Juventus ended in defeat as an unfamiliar Bianconeri side was thrashed 3-0 by 2. Bundesliga outfit Nurnberg on Friday.
The likes of Timothy Weah, Nicolo Fagioli and Dusan Vlahovic were limited to substitute roles as Motta selected a young side at Max-Morlock-Stadion, with the latter hitting the post with a second-half penalty at 1-0.
Caspar Jander had earlier given Nurnberg a 19th-minute lead, and they put some gloss on the scoreline with two late strikes after Vlahovic's missed spot-kick.
Substitutes Dustin Forkel and Tim Janisch both converted from inside the penalty area in the final four minutes as Motta's reign began in disappointing fashion.
The Bianconeri are next in action versus Brest on Saturday, with a further friendly against Atletico Madrid in the diary before they begin their Serie A campaign at Como on August 19.
Data Debrief: Juve's second string miss their chance
It's fair to say few of the youngsters selected by Motta made a big impression, with the Bianconeri only managing two shots to Nurnberg's seven before they rang the changes at half-time.
No Juventus starter created a chance in Bavaria, and things did not get much better when Motta made his changes, with Vlahovic in particular enduring a disappointing outing.
He only had 18 touches, one of them coming when he struck the woodwork from 12 yards.
Chiesa is a Juventus player 'for now', says Motta amid transfer links
Thiago Motta insists that Federico Chiesa remains a Juventus player "for now" amid growing uncertainty around his future with the 36-time Serie A champions.
Chiesa, who has made 131 appearances for Juventus, was offered a new deal before the end of last season but is yet to put pen to paper on fresh terms.
The Italian's contract runs out next year with the possibility of Juventus losing him on a free, as the club are eager for the 26-year-old to make a decision.
Chiesa has been of interest to fellow Serie A sides Roma and Napoli, with several Premier League teams also keen to add the Italy international to their ranks.
The Bianconeri are currently preparing for the new season in Germany, but Chiesa not part of Motta's travelling squad.
“He’s part of Juventus at this moment and then we’ll see," Motta told reporters ahead of Juventus' first pre-season friendly against Nuremberg on Friday.
Chiesa played a pivotal role in Juventus' 15th Coppa Italia success against Atalanta in May, also helping the club to a third place finish in Serie A.
He created more chances (54) and recorded more completed dribbles (35) than anyone in the Juventus squad in Italy's top flight, with his nine goals in 33 appearances only bettered by Dusan Vlahovic's 16.
Former Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci, who played alongside Chiesa in Turin between 2020 and 2023, offered a straightforward response when asked about his former team-mates future at the club.
“I don’t know if Chiesa will stay or leave. I think he needs to understand what he wants,” Bonnuci said.
"In recent years, he had difficulties in terms of physicality and character, now he needs to take another step to become a top player. I hope he will be at Juventus."
Chiesa a Juventus player 'for now', says Motta amid transfer links
Thiago Motta insists that Federico Chiesa remains a Juventus player "for now" amid growing uncertainty around his future with the 36-time Serie A champions.
Chiesa, who has made 131 appearances for Juventus, was offered a new deal before the end of last season but is yet to put pen to paper on fresh terms.
The Italian's contract runs out next year with the possibility of Juventus losing him on a free, as the club are eager for the 26-year-old to make a decision.
Chiesa has been of interest to fellow Serie A sides Roma and Napoli, with several Premier League teams also keen to add the Italy international to their ranks.
The Bianconeri are currently preparing for the new season in Germany, with Chiesa not part of Motta's travelling squad.
“He’s part of Juventus at this moment and then we’ll see," Motta told reporters ahead of Juventus' first pre-season friendly against Nuremberg on Friday.
Chiesa played a pivotal role in Juventus' 15th Coppa Italia success against Atalanta in May, also helping the club to a third place finish in Serie A.
He created more chances (54) and recorded more completed dribbles (35) than anyone in the Juventus squad in Italy's top flight, with his nine goals in 33 appearances only bettered by Dusan Vlahovic's 16.
Former Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci, who played alongside Chiesa in Turin between 2020 and 2023, offered a straightforward response when asked about his former team-mates future at the club.
“I don’t know if Chiesa will stay or leave. I think he needs to understand what he wants,” Bonnuci said.
"In recent years, he had difficulties in terms of physicality and character, now he needs to take another step to become a top player. I hope he will be at Juventus."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
