Football
ESPN staff 7y

Leonardo Bonucci called Manchester City about move - Ferran Soriano

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci contacted Manchester City about the possibility of moving to the club, City CEO Ferran Soriano has told Catalan radio station RAC1.

Soriano said "a lot of players" are keen to work with City manager Pep Guardiola and claimed Italy international Bonucci had "called us."

Bonucci -- who Guardiola has said is "one of my favourite players" -- has recently been strongly liked with a move to Chelsea, managed by ex-Italy boss Antoinio Conte.

But Soriano said: "At the moment, there are a lot of players that want to play under Pep.

"The Italian central defender Bonucci wanted to play for him [Guardiola] and he called us.

"So I called the Juventus sporting director [Fabio Paratici], and he told me they didn't want to sell. End of story."

On Tuesday, Guardiola denied reports that he had tried to take four of his former Barca players to the Etihad in the summer, including Lionel Messi.

He said: "This summer I never called Messi, Neymar, Busquets, Suarez or anybody. If ever I have called a Barca player it is because he doesn't get playing time. And look, if I did, I would be well within my rights because Barca calls City players."

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