Manchester United’s star Paul Pogba – wont to make more headlines off-pitch than he does on it – has all of a sudden been heavily linked with Juventus and Real Madrid amid the rising furore caused by his nefarious agent, adding to the uncertainty over his Old Trafford future.
The Red Devil’s one-time star has been reported to prefer joining Juventus over Real Madrid Juventus over Real Madrid. The France international’s abrasive stick-it-in-your-face agent, Mino Raiola, had claimed on Monday his client’s time at Old Trafford is drawing well nigh to a close. And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should actually be thankful to quickly replace the 27-year-old for oneplayer who actually desires to be at the club.
Pogba has tried leaving United more than once in the past, having had his sights set on a move to Barcelona back in the summer transfer window of 2018, shortly after firing France to World Cup glory.
However according to reported machinations purportedly schemed by Raiola for purposes of financial self-enrichment, the move didn’t materialise that year. The situation repeated itself in 2019, when an ambitious gaga-eyed Pogba was keen to join La Liga giants Real Madrid, which unfortunately did not materialize.
This time, however, he could be lucky the third time around.
Raiola played the agent provocateur, confirming in almost no uncertain terms that his client was set to leave the Red Devils after four underwhelming (read alternatively as ‘under-performing’) years on Tuesday, saying:
“There’s no point beating about the bush. It’s better to speak out clearly, look forward and avoid wasting time to find culprits
“Paul is unhappy at Manchester United, he can’t manage to express himself like he wants to and like people expect him to.
“He needs to change team, he needs a change of scenery.
“He has a contract that will expire in a year and a half, in the summer of 2022, but the best solution for all parties is a transfer in the next window.
“Otherwise the Old Trafford club, which I have a great relationship with, knows well that they would risk losing him on a free transfer, given that at the moment it’s not the player’s intention to extend the contract.”
The Athletic say Pogba would now like to rejoin Juventus after having left United for Turin on a free transfer back in 2012 and was a huge hit with the Old Lady, winning four Serie A titles on the spin.
Juventus did ponder a Pogba return in 2019 but, having spent mega bucks on megastar Cristiano Ronaldo the year before, decided that discretion was indeed the better part of valor and finally didn’t land their man.
Now, the latest report suggests they – sceptics disapproving of Raiola’s modus operandi swear he’s the one behind the entire plot – could be trying to initiate a deal with United by dangling Paulo Dybala as bait.
The Argentina international may leave Italy for a new challenge elsewhere, having failed to score in Serie A this season.
What would ultimately be Pogba’s next step still remains to be seen.