Leonardo Bonucci chosen Fernando Torres as probably the most tough opponent he confronted, ignoring Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The Juventus legend known as time on his illustrious profession final 12 months following a brief stint in Turkey with Fenerbahce. The 37-year-old rose to prominence as one of many world's finest defenders throughout his two spells with the Italian giants that totalled 12 years.
Throughout a profession that noticed the previous Italy worldwide seize 9 Scudetto trophies and the Euro 2020 title, Bonucci got here up towards the perfect attacking gamers soccer needed to supply at each membership and worldwide degree.
He has fairly the historical past with Ronaldo and Messi, having misplaced a Champions League remaining to every of them in addition to later changing into team-mates with the Portuguese icon at Juventus.
Having seen each up shut and private on the pitch, particularly Ronaldo, Bonucci shocked the general public when failing to say both participant because the ahead who'd given him probably the most challenges, opting to focus on the brilliance of the ex-Liverpool and Chelsea star.
Throughout an interview with MARCA, the Italian mentioned: "I might spotlight Fernando ‘El Niño’ Torres. He was the one who gave me probably the most issue as a result of he attacked effectively, performed very effectively along with his physique and used his physique effectively. The duels towards him have been all the time very tough."
Having loved battles towards Torres when the Spaniard performed for AC Milan, he witnessed simply how potent the Spaniard could possibly be in entrance of objective within the Euro 2012 remaining, when the striker scored the third objective in Spain's 4-0 rout of Italy.
Beforehand speaking to Sky, Bonucci picked Messi over Ronaldo as the best soccer participant he's ever seen when stating: "As a former team-mate I say Ronaldo, he’s a machine. As a soccer fan outdoors of the trade, I say Leo Messi."
In Bonucci's three years as Ronaldo's team-mate, Juventus received two out of three league titles. Whereas the Al-Nassr famous person was an amazing success in Turin, the defender claimed his presence triggered an absence of motivation among the many squad.
"Ronaldo's presence had an enormous affect on us," Bonucci admitted to The Athletic. "Simply coaching with him gave us one thing additional, however subconsciously, gamers began to suppose his presence alone was sufficient to win video games.
"We started to fall slightly quick in our each day work, the humility, the sacrifice, the need to be there to your teammates day after day. Over the previous couple of years, I believe you possibly can see that."
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