Bonucci Announces Plan To Retire Next Season

Bonucci has one year remaining on his contract with Juventus and he has decided to call it quits when the time comes.

Now a veteran at 36 years, Bonucci recently made his 500th appearance for Juventus, with whom he has won eight Serie A titles.

Bar a one-season spell at AC Milan in the 2017/2018 season, Bonucci has been at Juventus since 2010 and was at a point part of a solid defensive all-Italian backline that included Georgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli, with Gianluigi Buffon in goal.

"Wearing this shirt has been like living a dream for 12 years," Bonucci told Juventus' YouTube channel.

"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."

"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.

"It would mean we have achieved a lot and given the game a lot."

Bonucci has won 120 caps for the Italy national team, helping them to EURO 2020 glory.