Former Italy national team defender Leonardo Bonucci has shared that he had the opportunity to join English Premier League club Manchester City in 2016.
Bonucci stated, as reported by Sky Sports:
When I decided to leave Juventus in 2017, both Manchester City and PSG wanted me. They also sent a financial proposal but… I wanted to stay in Italy and I decided to join AC Milan. Pep already wanted me at Man City in summer 2016.
On June 28, 2010, Bonucci signed a five-year contract with Juventus, transferring from Bari. On July 14, 2017, he officially became a player for AC Milan, signing a five-year deal. The transfer fee was reported to be €40 million plus an additional €2 million in bonuses.
Bonucci's salary at Milan was €8 million per season, making him the highest-paid player in Italy at the time, surpassing Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain, who earned €7.5 million a year.
The Euro 2020 champion with the Italian national team announced his retirement from professional football on May 29, 2024. His final club was Turkish side Fenerbahce.