Allegri confirms Bonucci absence after row
After a row between the two last week, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed Leonardo Bonucci will miss the UEFA Champions League match against Porto.
Leonardo Bonucci will not play for Juventus at Porto in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday after his row with manager Massimiliano Allegri.
The two men argued towards the end of a 4-1 Serie A victory against Palermo, although Allegri later played it down as "a misunderstanding".
However, Bonucci is now to miss out as Juve travels to Portugal in their last-16 first leg, with the coach claiming the player has no problem with the decision.
"Bonucci will be in the stands [on Wednesday]," Allegri said. "That doesn't mean it has to be made into a big deal.
"This was the right thing to do, out of respect for the club, the team and the fans. The case is closed. As an important and intelligent lad, Leo understands the decision."
While Juve is without Bonucci, though, it has been handed a boost in the centre of defence as Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli are both available.
The two defenders have been absent in recent weeks with injuries, but are now set to line up against a dangerous Porto side as Allegri looks to move on from the Bonucci incident.
"Chiellini and Barzagli are fit and raring to go," he said. "This is a big moment in our season and we're ready.
"There are tensions and a bit of chaos during a season, that's part of the sport, but we don't need to make things worse than they are. It is all sorted out, we move forward.
"Our only focus is on playing 180 minutes of the highest quality. This won't be an easy tie. Porto are the worst side we could have drawn in the round-of-16 and we do not want to be distracted by a situation that does not exist."