Bonucci revealed the details of his transfer to Fenerbahçe!

Fenerbahçe’s Italian star, Leonardo Bonucci, expressed his belief in winning the championship and emphasized the importance of the team working together to focus on their goals.

Speaking to AA reporters before the match against Başakşehir in the Turkish Super Lig tomorrow, the 36-year-old defender answered questions. He said, “Our fans really want the championship. After years without winning championships, achieving it is crucial for the club. That’s why we are here. Of course, we are fighting together. The coach, president, and all staff are working towards the same goal. With our fans, we are striving for the championship everyone desires. To achieve this, we need to move together. The most important thing is that we need to be together, we need to strive together.”

“We must turn our energy into positivity”

Bonucci, acknowledging that they dropped 2 points against Samsunspor, stated that they need to turn this situation into a positive one. He said, “After that result, we must turn our energy into positivity. We need to leave the Başakşehir match with a victory. We can achieve the championship, but we need to stay together to accomplish it. 1+1 doesn’t always make 2; sometimes, you can gain even more. We can win both the league and cups in all competitions. We just need to stay united.”

“Everyone in this team is very important”

Bonucci, who mentioned that he had never received an offer from any team in Turkey before, pointed out the experienced players in the team. He said, “Players like Dzeko, Tadic, Szymanski, Fred are very experienced. We can also add names like İrfan Can, Cengiz, and Batshuayi. Everyone in this team is very, very important. Everyone is a part of this fantastic team. Unity is crucial. If you want to make a difference, open a gap, you need to be a group. Individuality doesn’t mean much in football. We need to be together, fight together. We can succeed together. We need to work towards a single goal, and only then can we achieve the league championship. I have won many trophies in my career, but I could never have done it alone. Against eleven, one person cannot achieve anything. We need to fight together. We need to give our all in both matches and training.”

Bonucci’s transfer to Fenerbahçe

Regarding his transfer to Fenerbahçe, Bonucci mentioned that he first met with Mario Branco. He continued, “In this meeting, I heard how much everyone wanted me, and that was very important to me. After that, I talked to Dzeko, and he provided detailed information about the club. After that, it became easier for me to come here. Fenerbahçe was the best choice for me. I want to complete my career with championships and trophies. That’s why I chose to come here. The Super Lig is a good and quality league. I know how important it is to win trophies against Galatasaray and Beşiktaş.”

“Fenerbahçe is the best and biggest club in Turkey”

Emphasizing that Fenerbahçe has a fantastic fan base, the experienced defender said he would be honored to contribute to any potential new transfers.

Regarding Edin Dzeko’s contribution to his transfer process, Bonucci said, “Such discussions are very important; these matters are crucial in football. People knew what I wanted and how I approached football before coming here. I talked to Dzeko about this place. If such an opportunity arises, if they ask for my opinion, of course, I would help, I would talk. Honestly, this is the best and biggest club in Turkey. Fenerbahçe is the biggest football team and community in Turkey. It would be nice for me to be able to help in this way. The fans’ passion is incredible. Before coming here, I watched and followed them. Their passion and support were crucial for me to come here.”

“I can say that İsmail Kartal is the best choice for Fenerbahçe”

Expressing that they are at the top in both the league and Europe and finding negative criticisms against their coach excessive, Bonucci said, “For me, the first impression is crucial for every person. I can say that İsmail Kartal is the best choice for Fenerbahçe. He knows the club very well, and in my opinion, this is crucial. He also knows the fans’ expectations, which is very important. He talks to everyone in the team every day, constantly in communication. He wants to know how we feel. I also have to say that the training sessions are really of high quality. We are conducting intense and quality training. Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert the goal chances we had against Samsun into goals. We need to finish them with goals. We need to be positive. We have a goal, and we are working towards that goal. We need to come together and walk towards the same goal. We want to be champions in May, and we will give everything to achieve that.”

“I want to be part of the national team in Euro 2024”

The experienced player expressed his desire to participate in the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, saying, “My goal is to be there. I had a meeting with Spalletti before the transfer. It’s not an easy tournament. There are strong countries, but we are the champions. We will go to Germany to defend this title. I want to be there as a part of the national team. Everyone wants to be there, and when I am there, I will give my best.”

Meetin with Vincenzo Montella

Bonucci mentioned that they met with the head coach of the Turkish National Football Team, Vincenzo Montella, on the first day he arrived in Turkey at Ülker Stadium. He said, “He told me how important the Turkish League is. We talked about the young and talented players here. He knows and understands this place. I was impressed by this situation. I did not expect to be loved so much in Turkey in such a short time. He is trying to do the best. He will do everything to advance from the group. He is happy, I know that. The most important thing is that.”

“Hakan Çalhanoğlu is currently one of the best midfielders in the world”

Commenting on the championship race between Inter and Juventus in Italy and the young player Kenan Yıldız, Bonucci stated:

“Kenan is a crucial player for Juventus and the national team. He is both a quality and powerful, talented player. He has the capacity to be the best player for Juventus and the Turkish National Team. There is an intense championship race ongoing in Italy, similar to the Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray rivalry here. I know Hakan Çalhanoğlu; we talked 2-3 months ago. He is currently one of the best midfielders in the world. Juventus might be a bit luckier because Inter is also playing in the UEFA Champions League. I believe this competition will continue until the last match.”

“Cristiano Ronaldo is a fantastic player”

Regarding the question about Cristiano Ronaldo playing in Saudi Arabia, the Italian star defender responded:

“Cristiano is a fantastic person and a fantastic player. He is one of the best players in the world, along with Messi. It was an honor to play together at Juventus. He is passionate about his job and loves what he does. He enjoys challenges. Italy, England, and Spain are significant leagues, but these leagues (Turkey-Saudi Arabia) are not easy either. Transfers and decisions are made quickly. I respect his career.”

Retiring from football… Turkish food vs. Italian food

Bonucci emphasized that there is no change in his decision to retire from football at the end of the season. Concluding his words on Turkish cuisine, he said, “I appreciate Turkish cuisine, and I really like the food. The dishes are beautiful, but being Italian, I love Italian cuisine even more. As Italians, we prefer flavors like pasta and pizza.”