Claim: Leonardo Bonucci plays Italian football.

Leonardo Bonucci -LRB- -LSB- leoˈnardo boˈnuttʃi -RSB- ; born 1 May 1987 -RRB- is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team .   After beginning his career with Inter in 2005 , Bonucci spent the next few seasons on loan at Treviso and Pisa , before moving to Bari in 2009 . His technique , ball-playing ability and defensive performances alongside fellow Italian centre-back Andrea Ranocchia earned him a move to Juventus the following season , where he later became a key member of the club 's three-man defensive line , alongside Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli , establishing himself as one of the best defenders in world football . He went on to win six consecutive Serie A titles with the team between 2012 and 2017 .   At international level , Bonucci has represented Italy at two FIFA World Cups -LRB- 2010 and 2014 -RRB- , two European Championships -LRB- 2012 and 2016 -RRB- , and a FIFA Confederations Cup -LRB- 2013 -RRB- , winning a runners-up medal at Euro 2012 , and a third-place medal at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup .   Bonucci has also won several individual honours for his performances : he was named to the UEFA Europa League Squad of the season during the 2013 -- 14 season , and is a two-time member of the Serie A Team of the Year ; he was named the Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2016 , and was also included in the UEFA Team of the Year in the same season .