Manchester United target wants to leave club, confirms Serie A boss

AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso has conceded Manchester United target Leonardo Bonucci wants to leave the club after 12 months.

The Serie A giants pulled off a shock deal to sign Bonucci from rivals Juventus last summer but the move hasn’t worked out for the Italy international.

Jose Mourinho wants to bolster his defensive options this summer and Manchester United have been linked with the 31-year-old.

There have also been reports suggesting Bonucci could return to Juventus and Gattuso has confirmed the veteran wants to exit Milan.

“I’ve spoken to Leo and you need to be honest and say things as they are,” The Daily Express quote Gattuso as saying.

“Leo had a meeting with me, but I am not the club and he needs to talk to the directors.

“Until he leaves my dressing room, I want to see the Bonucci I’ve seen over the last 12 days – a professional Bonucci, he is the first to push the group and he is behaving as a great captain.

“Then it will be up to Leo and the club to decide, but I hope that Bonucci can stay here. He is a player with mentality and talent.

“I think that when a player expresses a desire, the coach must do all he can to convince him to stay.”

Bonucci has previously turned down interest from the Premier League due to his son’s health and it remains to be seen whether that stance has changed.

In the last two Serie A campaigns, Bonucci has completed the most long balls of all outfielders (498).