Fabio Paratici has admitted that he is still in touch with Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci amid reports linking the Italy international with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, while speaking to Sky Italia, via Corriere dello Sport.
He may not be the irrepressible force of old at the age of 34 but, alongside long-time partner Giorgio Chiellini, the veterans have returned with a vengeance for an Italy side now just 180 minutes away from European glory.
Bonucci and Chiellini have been pretty much peerless as the Azzurri stormed to the semi-finals of Euro 2020.
Roberto Mancini’s side have conceded just one goal from open play during the tournament too, despite supplanting those Catenaccio roots with a more dynamic, forward-thinking approach.
While eyebrows were raised a month ago when Calciomercato suggested that Paratici could raid his old employers for a man four years older than Spurs’ coach Ryan Mason, Bonucci’s stellar showings on the biggest of stages prove that there is plenty of life left in this old dog yet.
Could Leonardo Bonucci join Tottenham after Euro 2020?
“They are my friends and they are special to me. I talk often with Bonucci,” Paratici, Tottenham’s new sporting director, said when asked about the players who dominated the Italian football landscape during his decade behind the scenes at Juventus.
Considering that Tottenham’s miserable 2020/21 campaign was littered by defensive errors, it is no surprise the London giants are looking to bring in an elite-level centre-half, even if Bonucci would be more of a short-term quick fix than a long-standing solution.
The evergreen Italian has lifted 17 trophies in the black and white of Juventus.
With his superb passing range, inch-perfect positioning and his ability to lead by example on and off the pitch, there is little doubt Bonucci would be a readymade replacement for the wantaway Toby Alderweireld.
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