Juventus could re-sign Paul Pogba at the end of the season, as the France international looks to sever ties with Manchester United. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Bianconeri could make an attempt to bring the playmaker back to Turin, provided they offload the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot.
Pogba has less than ten months left to run on his current contract at Old Trafford. Despite Man United’s relentless attempts to extend his whopping €15m-a-year deal, the 28-year-old has yet to pledge his future to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. Having rejoined the Red Devils in summer 2016, the highly-rated midfielder has never managed to live up to his reputation as one of Europe’s finest playmakers.
In addition to several injury setbacks he has picked up down the road, Pogba’s inconsistency and rumored lack of enthusiasm have seen him blow hot and cold at the Theatre of Dreams over the past five years. However, it looks like the 2018 World Cup winner has found his feet this calendar year, developing into one of Solskjaer’s most trusted allies alongside his mercurial partner Bruno Fernandes.
Pogba’s resurgence in Manchester has enticed the Old Trafford powerbrokers to accelerate talks with the midfielder’s agent Mino Raiola. But Raiola has taken several digs at the Red Devils chiefs over the past couple of years as he looks hell-bent on taking his client away from the Premier League in the summer. Indeed, the super-agent seems to be working around the clock to convince Pogba to turn down United’s proposal in favor of securing a high-profile move at the end of the season.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are Pogba’s long-term suitors. Los Blancos are particularly interested in landing the Frenchman as Florentino Perez aims to assemble the new ‘Galacticos’ ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. Though the Spanish powerhouse remain front-runners in the race to sign the coveted playmaker, Juventus will fancy their chances in this keenly-contested tug-of-war.
The record-time Italian champions have been touted for a move for their former star over the past few years, but the deal never materialized. However, with the return of Massimiliano Allegri at the helm, Juventus’ hopes of bringing the prodigal son back have been handed a massive boost.
During his first managerial stint in Turin, Allegri helped Pogba fulfill his potential and grow into one of the most exciting prospects in European football. The Italian is keen on reuniting with his ex-protege, and the feeling might be mutual, considering Pogba enjoyed the most glittering moments of his career in Serie A.
Yet, to get the deal over the line, Juventus will first need to offload a couple of their underperforming stars. Ramsey and Rabiot, who have struggled to settle in Italy’s top-flight, are the leading candidates to make way for Pogba’s blockbuster return to Turin. While the former barely featured for the Bianconeri since arriving from Arsenal in 2019, the latter’s topsy-turvy experience in Italy could cost him come the summer of 2022.
Another potential candidate to call time on his underwhelming spell at the Allianz Stadium is Weston McKennie. Despite his versatility and combative spirit, the United States international has failed to impress Allegri and could be on the move when the transfer window reopens for business in January.
Juventus’ hopes of recapturing Pogba are not beyond the realm of possibility, but the Bianconeri may have to defy the odds to win the race for his signature.