When Leonardo Bonucci sealed what was an utterly surprising switch to arch-rivals AC Milan, a vast majority of footballing fans were left rubbing their eyes and pinching themselves after what they had witnessed. It certainly came out of nowhere, especially after the Italian defender had hardly drawn links to the rossoneri before the move actually transpired.

 

While Bonucci had been linked with clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City, a move to an arch-rival came out of the blue. So much so that no one can still believe that it has actually happened and the fact that the Italian will soon don the famed red and black of the rossoneri rather than the black and white of Juventus, leave many feeling perplexed. It is well and truly a part and parcel of football and overall, Milan will be very happy with the business that they’ve done.

 

 

Bonucci was the rossoneri’s eighth capture of the summer, with Lucas Biglia set to become the ninth. The club now looks like a challenger for the Scudetto once again but in Turin, the loss comes at a massive price for Massimiliano Allegri. The BBC, which comprised of Andrea Barzagli, Georgio Chiellini and Bonucci himself, has ceased to exist and a host of Italian clubs and Juve’s European rivals can heave a sigh of relief. The Old Lady defence had conceded only three goals in the Champions League campaign last season, before letting in four in the final of the competition. More so, the club had only conceded 27 times in the Serie A, the best of any of the big five European leagues.

 

It is undoubtedly a massive challenge to replace a man who is probably the best defender in the world and had been at the club for seven years. Fans were so accustomed to watching Bonucci wear the familiar black and white colours that it will seem strange to see Juve without him.

 

Allegri however, is aware of the size of task at hand and replacing someone like Bonucci seems like a very tough ask. The capture of Mattia Caldara from Atalanta will be helpful in allowing the club options in tiding over the cracks, but the 23-year-old will have to fight off stiff competition from Daniele Rugani, who has never really been a regular starter at centre-half due to the BBC’s presence. Rugani is a year younger than Caldara and both are defenders who have been tipped to become regulars for Italy in the near future. Not just that, but the very idea of signing them from Empoli and Atalanta was they could replace the BBC someday.

 

And with one vital aspect of the BBC now gone, it seems like the perfect opportunity for one of the two to step up to the plate and make an impact. Rugani would obviously be the first-choice, having already played in the centre of the back line for the Old Lady, but Caldara isn’t too different in terms of ability. They’re both very good in the air and have showed the ability to dominate games from the back. Caldara especially, at Atalanta, earned the knack for keeping opposition forwards at bay by bullying them in whatever way possible. The opportunities that Rugani got to do the same was less, but the former Empoli star seems more comfortable on the ball. He knows how to build play from the back and often breaks into the midfield, an ability that is certainly reminiscent of Bonucci himself.

 

Although, the club has the armour to replace Bonucci without spending, the very fact that there’s no shortage of money and the need for an immediate replacement for the departed Italian, may well force the club into signing someone rather than making either of Rugani or Caldara a first-team regular.

 

Bonucci belongs to that dying breed for defender who will put his body on their line for the club and will do everything possible to win games. Players who can replace him will be very tough to find in the modern-day scenario. Defenders like him may well exist, but it would take something special to prise them away from their own clubs.

 

Borussia Dortmund’s Sokratis Papastathopoulos is being linked with a move to Turin and while he is someone who fits the bill, it will be tough to convince Dortmund into selling their Greek battler. He is 29 and was Dortmund’s Player of the Season in the 2016-17 campaign. He is that hard-nosed stopper who likes to dominate games and act as the leader for the team. Despite that though, it all depends on the way Allegri looks at the situation. 

 

Apart from all that, the presence of Medhi Benatia in the side will ease things considerably. The 30-year-old former Bayern Munich player made only 15 Serie A appearances last term, but can play a role in helping Allegri sort out the situation. If Caldara doesn't’t come back from his loan spell in Bergamo, it could be a case of rotation between Rugani and the Moroccan international.


Kaustubh Pandey