Forget Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, one Serie A striker was Bonucci’s ‘nightmare’ | OneFootball

Former Juventus and Milan defender Leonardo Bonucci was ‘lucky’ to face great champions in his career, including Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but his ‘nightmare’ was Duvan Zapata.

Bonucci was a guest of Sky Calcio Club on Sunday night when he extensively spoke about his successful playing career.

One of the best defenders of his generation, Bonucci won eight Serie A titles with Juventus, EURO 2020 with the Italy national team and reached the Champions League Final twice with the Old Lady.

During his latest interview, he spoke about the most challenging strikers he had met in his career.

Forget Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, one Serie A striker was Bonucci’s ‘nightmare’

“The one that hit me the most and the one I had more fun with was Luis Suarez because he hit and got hit without any problem,” he said.

“My nightmare, who didn’t make me sleep at night, was Zapata. God, before games against his Atalanta side, I couldn’t sleep at night. His power and physicality made him my nightmare.

“Then, I was lucky enough to play against so many champions. Drogba, Ronaldo, Messi, Torres, and I forget others, but it was too good.” Bonucci also played with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus from 2018 until 2021.

Bonucci made his senior Italy debut in March 2010 and scored eight goals in 121 appearances with the Azzurri.

During the same interview on Sunday night, Bonucci explained why he controversially joined Milan from Juventus in 2017 and why he snubbed Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City twice.

Bonucci retired last summer after spending his last season as a footballer at Union Berlin and Fenerbahce.