Report: Bonucci to City, Benatia and Gotze to Juventus?
Last night's encounter at the J Stadium was more than just a thrilling game of football between two of Europe's best teams. It was also a chance for two business partners - Juventus and Bayern Munich - to get together and talk transfers.
After Kingsley Coman and Arturo Vidal moved to Munich in summer, it may now be Juventus' turn to pick two players from Bavaria and bring them over to Piedmont, at least according to Tuttomercatoweb's Marco Frattino (@MFrattino).
Specifically, Mehdi Benatia and Mario Gotze have both been in the Old Lady's sights for some time, with talk of Benatia joining Juventus at the end of the season emerging a few weeks ago. What is behind this?
Well, Andrea Barzagli may have been incredible against Napoli, but he's still an ageing veteran. Benatia is only 28, and though he is coming off some physical issues of his own, he'd have a better shot at a starting berth in Turin than he would at the Allianz Arena.
Also coming off an injury (a long-term one), Mario Gotze would like to regain some consistency, and starting regularly for Juventus may well be the solution for the German international.
This would also fit with the eventual departure of Leonardo Bonucci to Manchester City. Complimented by future Citizen Guardiola in last night's post-game presser, the Italy international is now at the heart of intense speculation.
