Leonardo Bonucci is close to agreeing a contract renewal to remain with Italian champions Juventus.
With interest in the defender shown by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the Bianconeri have been working hard to put the speculation to bed by extending the 28-year-old’s contract, which currently expires in two years time.
Tuttomercatoweb.com report that a deal is now nearing completion with Juventus offering Bonucci a salary increase from €1.8 million to €3m a season to keep the Italian international until 2019.
The news would be a blow to Real’s new coach Rafael Benitez, the former Napoli boss seeing the centre-back as someone to bring stability to Los Blancos’ notoriously shaky back line.
Bonucci has been at Juventus since 2010 when he signed from Bari in a deal worth €15.5m and has turned out to be an excellent investment for the Old Lady.
The defender has made over 160 appearances as the Bianconeri have risen back to the top of the Italian game, winning four consecutive Scudetti including last season’s Serie A and Coppa Italia double.
