Juventus captain Bonucci to retire at end of next season

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci has announced that he will retire at the end of the next season.

"Wearing this shirt has been like living a dream for 12 years. Everything I've done has been for a shirt that for me is like a second skin," Bonucci, who is also the captain of Italy’s national team, said on Juventus’ YouTube channel.

"There's still a little boy inside who is so happy to wear this shirt and take to the field in it because it was his dream - a dream come true," he added.

Bonucci kicked off his career at Inter Milan in 2005 and won his first Italian Serie A title in the 2005-06 season.

The 36-year-old defender won nine Serie A titles, including eight in a row with Juventus between 2011-12 and 2019-20.

He was on the winning side in the final of EURO 2020 against England at Wembley.

Bonucci celebrated his 500th appearance in a Juventus jersey last week and has 120 caps for Italy.