ROME (AFP) - Juventus have rejected a bid from Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg for Italy centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, the club said Thursday.

Bonucci only joined the club from Bari a year ago and played regularly at the heart of the defence last season.

The move to Juve also saw the 24-year-old establish himself alongside club team-mate Giorgio Chiellini in the Italian team.

"It's true that there was a request from Zenit St Petersburg but we're counting on him," said Juve's administrative delegator Giuseppe Marotta.

"Leonardo is young, last year was his first experience in a big team and we're counting on him for next season.

"Hence we don't want to accept the Russian club's request."

Although he joined Juve from Bari, Bonucci began his career at Inter Milan before going out on loan to Treviso and Pisa.

He made only one league appearance for Inter but Marotta's comments about his Juve experience being his first at a big club are sure to rile the Inter hierarchy.