Paul Pogba has a contract with Manchester United that runs till the end of this season. He will be becoming a free agent in the summer and will certainly attract a lot of interest from other clubs. Consequently, Juventus are linked with a move for the Frenchman again. The 28-year-old midfielder’s future with Manchester United has been uncertain for the past few years and it seems now we will finally get to see where he goes.
According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via www.football-italia.net), Juventus are already working to convince Paul Pogba for a move back to Italy. Massimiliano Allegri is trying to convince Pogba to join him at Juventus again. He will be receiving the same salary as Dusan Vlahovic i.e., 7.5 million euros; however, the Old Lady might not have to pay a transfer fee as he will become a free agent at the end of the season.
Pogba was at the center of attention when he was at Juventus from 2012 to 2016. He played many finals for the club including the Champions League final. Nevertheless, it has not been the same at Manchester United. He has had to face a lot of criticism and controversies throughout his time in England. It should not be forgotten that he has been an important part of United’s Europa League victory under Mourinho.
Although these are just rumours, there is a good chance of this deal happening as there are no talks about a contract extension currently. The new manager coming in may or may not favour the player but it looks like Pogba would be interested in reuniting with Juventus since it is where he would be out of the limelight.
How Pogba’s absence could impact Manchester United?
Paul Pogba has been at Man Utd for the past five years and has enjoyed both ups and downs with the club. On his day, he is probably the best midfielder in the world with his technical abilities and physicality. However, he is failing to put in those world-class performances on a regular basis.
Nothing should be taken away from the abilities of the World Cup winner but he has failed to turn up on big occasions quite a few times. Nevertheless, the skill, ability and dominance he provides in the midfield could be tough to replace. The Red Devils signed him for a then world-record fee of £89.3 million. The transfer fee did seem justified in the start but that was not the case after the 2017-18 season.
Moreover, there are chances that United might lose him for free without receiving any amount for a player they signed at a world record fee. As a result, they won’t be getting any funds to find a replacement for such a skilful player. Losing Pogba on a free could also dent the club financially, especially if they sign another expensive midfielder.
Possible replacements for Paul Pogba
The sensible option:
Manchester United have Donny van de Beek out on loan to Everton without an option to buy. The rumours suggest that Erik ten Hag is in contention to be the next permanent manager of United. Donny peaked at his abilities under Ten Hag at Ajax and could replicate the same at United again if Ten Hag takes over in summer.
The Youth option:
Hannibal Mejbri has caught the eye of Ralf Rangnick receiving high praise from the German manager. However, he is yet to start a game for United and also hasn’t featured under Rangnick. The reports around him give very positive feedback about his attitude and gameplay, which can be very useful in the long term.
Jude Bellingham 'makes decision' on his future amid United interest #mufc https://t.co/iKGbaQyt88 pic.twitter.com/cbXLGZ0pwR
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) March 4, 2022
The big money option:
Manchester United could break their bank for elite options like Marco Verratti or Frenkie de Jong. However, that seems highly unlikely given their respective clubs remain committed to their players. A young option could be signing Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund but the German club might demand a lot of money from United as they previously did for Jadon Sancho.
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Why Paul Pogba leaving Manchester United is beneficial for both player and the club?
Paul Pogba will finally be free from all the criticism and controversy he has faced in the five years he has spent at United. He will be free to express himself on the pitch and get his world-class reputation again. Whereas Manchester United won’t have to deal with the constant controversies around the player.
He was also among the best-paid players at the club and his exit could save Utd a lot of money in wages. United could in turn get a more dedicated player who suits the new manager’s style.
