By Daily Sports on May 8, 2020

Former Morocco captain Medhi Benatia says he was betrayed by Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus.

The 33-year-old central defender was on the books of the Italian giants between 2017 and 2019 – working with manager Allegri.

Benatia was criticized after Juventus lost to their Serie A title rivals Napoli on the 22nd of April 2018 and he has dropped from the starting line-up ahead of their next game away to Inter Milan.

“I was having one of my best games for Juve, as with Giorgio Chiellini’s injury after 10 minutes, I kept the defence going practically by myself,” Benatia told Sky Sports Italia.

“I made so many important rescues to keep it at 0-0, then there was this corner in the final minutes and the referee told me he was watching in case I held anyone’s shirt.

“That’s why I tried not to touch Koulibaly, but Raul Albiol stepped in front, I didn’t see the ball and at the end lost the marking for an incredible goal.”

Senegal international Kalidou Koulibaly scored the winning goal for Napoli, but it was Juventus, who went on to clinch the Serie A title.

“We lost 1-0, but in that moment, I felt we hadn’t just lost the game, but lost everything. I went home and didn’t sleep for three days after that. I didn’t talk to anyone in training,” he continued.

“A couple of days later, we started preparing the game with Inter – which was going to be fundamental – and I saw Allegri wasn’t going to pick me. I’d been playing regularly, so I took it personally and thought he was punishing me for the Napoli goal.

“Fortunately, we won 3-2 at San Siro, so went on to win the Scudetto, but I still felt that he was singling me out. I thought, hadn’t he seen how well I’d played in the Napoli game before that? Napoli were dominating and we could’ve conceded four that day,” he added.

“I felt betrayed. I had played on even when injured and realised the team needed me. At times, I’d skip training and he’d play me anyway, so I really was hurt when Allegri dropped me.”

Benatia is currently on the books of Qatari giants Al Duhail. (Sky Sports)

•PHOTO: Medhi Benatia 

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 8, 2020

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