Leonardo Bonucci came under fire for his comments on racist abuse suffered by team-mate Moise Kean last week.
Kean was targeted by Cagliari fans in the Serie A fixture on Tuesday night and responded with a celebration with his arms outstretched after scoring the second goal.
It led to Bonucci suggesting the teenager was "50-50" to blame for the abuse in an interview after the game - sparking a backlash from around the world.
The likes of Mario Balotelli, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Lilian Thuram have spoken out against his comments - but Bonucci has now insisted he was "misunderstood" and branded racism a "scandal".
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“Everyone was right to get annoyed,” he admitted in an interview with Le Iene .
“Racism is a scandal and it mustn’t exist in 2019. I’d say I was misunderstood.
“I apologise to those who have misunderstood me because my response wasn’t exhaustive enough. Having said that, I’m against racism 100 percent.
“I heard the boos and the tools are there to go and get the guilty parties and punish them fully.”
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Asked about the criticism received by fellow players, he revealed he has reached out to some to apologise and clarify his comments.
“I’ve always loved Mario (Balotelli) and I always will,” he continued.
“At that precise moment Boateng was right. I explained to him my desire that I was misinterpreted.
“I didn’t justify racism, only that I would’ve preferred Moise to have celebrated with us.
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“I repeat: they’re all right. I love everyone, the same goes for Thuram. I also talked to him by phone.
“We talked to each other and I explained that I’d been misunderstood, but I’m 100% against racism. It should never be tolerated, on any occasion.”
Kean scored again as Juventus came from behind to beat AC Milan 2-1 on Saturday, and they will head to Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.
