PROMO-Tri Motrat –Epizod 45
Liverpool’s announcement that the experienced quartet of Firmino, Milner, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain are leaving Anfield came as no surprise.
What it does confirm, however, is that this will be a summer of transition as manager Klopp refreshes a squad that will end the season without silverware after chasing four trophies last term, winning the FA Cup and League Cup.
Firmino has been a central figure in Liverpool’s outstanding trophy haul under Klopp but the succession plan for the Brazilian already appears to have been dealt with by the signing of Cody Gakpo.
It is in midfield where Klopp will focus attention as Milner, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain leave and with captain Jordan Henderson celebrating his 33rd birthday in June.
Jude Bellingham will not be coming but Liverpool will have plans in place for serious strengthening in that area, with Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Brighton’s Argentina World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister very much on a list of potential summer targets.
Everything I’ve done has been for a shirt that for me is like a second skin.There’s still a little boy inside who is so happy to wear this shirt and take to the field in it because it was his dream – a dream come true.”
Bonucci, whose contract expires next season, began his career at Inter Milan in 2005, where he won his first Serie A title in 2005-06.
The defender also had spells at Treviso, Pisa, Genoa and Bari before joining Juventus in 2010, becoming part of a famous Juve backline along with Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon that dominated Italian football for a decade.
The Turin giants won nine successive titles between 2011-12 and 2019-20, with Bonucci claiming eight of those after spending one season at AC Milan in 2017-18.
Bonucci made his Italy debut in March 2010 and captained the side for the first time four years later.
He represented the Azzurri at two World Cups and three European Championships, finishing runner-up at Euro 2012 before lifting the trophy nine years later following a penalty shootout win over England at Wembley.
“When I stop playing next year, it will be the end of a defensive era – a way of defending Italian style,” he added.
“It’s a source of pride to be up there with the greatest. I hope lots of future defenders will see us as idols – just as we did with (Franco) Baresi, (Alessandro) Nesta, (Paolo) Maldini and (Fabio) Cannavaro.
