Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has rejected the chance to join Premier League champions Chelsea this summer, according to Don Balon.
This follows up from the story in the Guardian which reported that the Blues had placed the 30-year-old as one of their potential targets in the transfer market.
The Spanish outlet claims that the central defender feels more appreciated than ever with the Serie A champions and he has declined an offer to sign for former boss Antonio Conte.
The two men worked together for three years as Conte was Juventus manager before being appointed the head coach for the Italy national team.
The report also claims that the Italian has rejected offers from fellow Premier League side Manchester City and La Liga giants Barcelona this summer.
Bonucci’s decision represents a major blow for Chelsea given his pedigree but supporters should not feel too disheartened about the report as Sky Sports Italy recently claimed that Roma defender Antonio Rudiger is currently undergoing a medical at Stamford Bridge.
Bonucci has been one of the most consistent performers at Juventus since joining the club seven years ago.
The Italian has helped them secure six consecutive league titles and progress to the Champions League final two times in the past three seasons.
The defender was outstanding for Juventus last season, scoring five goals in 45 matches in all competitions.
Bonucci’s current contract with the Italian champions runs out in 2021.