Gonzalo Higuain and Leonardo Bonucci are only 14 months removed from starting together in the Champions League Final. Now the two stars are being swapped for each other! In a shock move, Leo Bonucci will return to Juventus in exchange for centre-back Mattia Caldara and a loan of Gonzalo Higuain.
Juventus and Milan Swap Major Stars
Ever Since Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Juventus, we all knew they wanted to win the Champions League. Now in order to assure that they have given up the future of the Italian defence, for Italy’s (probably) best centre-back. Bonucci, though he had a down season at Milan last year, is still an elite, ball-playing centre-back that adds a major dimension to Juve.
What Milan Get
However, whether or not this deal will be a success will depend on the players that went back to Milan. Higuain and Caldara are both good players. Higuain’s loan & buy option will help with Milan’s financial issues. But the real piece for them is Caldara.
Mattia Caldara has spent the last two seasons on loan at Atalanta. There, he played at the centre of a back three that brought Atalanta into European football for the first time in 26 years. He has been called the best young Italian centre-back for some time and this move to Milan will be his chance to cement that.
Not only will he be playing every day at one of the biggest clubs in the world, he will be partnering Alessio Romagnoli in defence, his presumptive partner for the Italian National Team going forward. That will be massive as Italy try and restart their national team after missing the World Cup.
As for Higuain, he gives Milan a proven Serie A goalscorer, something they truly missed last season. He also gives them a great mentor for their young forwards Patrick Cutrone and Andre Silva. Higuain gets a ton of stick and rightfully so, but the guy can flat score and his goals could be vital if AC Milan are to return to the Champions League.
Juve’s All In
But Juventus want to win the Champions League and they are clearly prepared to do whatever it takes to get it. Cristiano Ronaldo was one thing, Leonardo Bonucci is another. With still a month to go in the window, it’s already been a wild summer in Serie A, but one thought remains.
Bonucci’s young son is famously a Torino fan, Juve’s arch rival. So much so that he’s even worn a Torino shirt to Juve games.
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