Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci relishing Inter showdown

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci believes there will be a special atmosphere inside the San Siro when his team take on Inter Milan tonight.

He said: “I feel a great desire to play; Inter and Juventus are the history of Italian football.”

Bonucci, who spent two years at the San Siro with Inter but only made four appearances for the Nerazzurri, spoke highly of the club which helped his development as a youngster coming through the ranks.

“I will always thank Inter,” said the 23-year-old. “It was the club that allowed me to enter the sport. I will always carry the experience of the two years in which I trained with Ibrahimovic and others.”

Juventus signed the defender from Bari this summer after an impressive season for the Puglia club in which he formed a strong partnership with Andrea Ranocchia to help them maintain one of the best defensive records in Serie A.

The Old Lady have struggled in defence in the early part of the current campaign but Bonucci believes his side simply need time to adapt to their new signings.

“The team is almost entirely new and there is little time to train,” he added. “We play every three days so it is not so easy to try again and again during the week.”

Meanwhile, Inter anchorman Esteban Cambiasso insists the reigning Italian and European champions are not afraid of Sunday’s visitors to the San Siro.

“We are calm,” said Cambiasso. “We are top of the table when and we are confident of our potential.”