Danilo: Leaving Juventus ‘not my decision’ | OneFootball

Former Juventus defender Danilo insists that leaving the club was ‘not my decision’ but leaves the Bianconeri with no regrets: ‘I’ve given my all.’

Juventus announced Danilo’s contract termination on Monday.

The Bianconeri captain had six months left in his contract at the Allianz Stadium but was no longer part of Thiago Motta’s plans.

“I always made myself available, and I always did my job,” Danilo told reporters on Monday before leaving from Turin Caselle Airport.

Danilo: Leaving Juventus ‘not my decision’

Danilo of Juventus during the warm up prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Cagliari Calcio at Allianz Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

“I will forever bring with me the relationship I have with the lads. I can’t influence the coach and the club’s decisions. It wasn’t my decision.”

Danilo had been struggling with playing time under Motta and collected 809 minutes of football in the first part of the season.

“I have no regrets. As I said, I have always been available, in every sense, since day one,” the defender continued.

“I’m sorry I won’t have a chance to say goodbye to the fans at the stadium. I’ve given my all from the first to the last day. My conscience is clear.”

Danilo added that Juventus seemed to have lost the “sense of unity” and thanked the fans again before leaving. “Surely, I will bring this inside me forever. They are Juventus, not the players or the directors.”

Danilo joined Juventus in a player-plus-cash swap deal with Manchester City in 2019.

He was the Juventus captain in 2023-24 and in the current campaign.

The Brazil international scored nine goals in 213 appearances with the Old Lady, winning the Serie A title in 2019-20 under Maurizio Sarri. He’s expected to return to Brazil to join Flamengo on a free transfer.