Bonucci accepts being booed for Juve but not Italy

MILAN: Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci said he had no problem with being jeered when he was playing for his club Juventus but could not accept it when representing the national team.

Bonucci, who left AC Milan after one season to return to Juventus in August, was booed by a small number of fans when he returned to Milan’s San Siro to play for Italy in the Nations League match with Portugal on Saturday which ended 0-0.

“I was annoyed because when you play for the national team, the interests and issues of clubs must be put aside,” Bonucci told reporters.

“When I found myself facing jeers by wearing the shirts of Juventus and Milan, I always accepted them.

“Unfortunately, it is part of Italian football and our culture to come to the stadium and whistle players for the choices they make,” he said.

“I never let certain things bother me, not even when they brought my family into it but when you defend your nation and represent 60 million people it would be nice not to be subjected to them.”

Bonucci has made 84 appearances for Italy since his debut in 2010 and played in the Euro 2012 final defeat by Spain.

At Juventus he has won six Serie A titles and three Italian Cup trophies as well as two runners-up medals in the Champions League.