When the old lady calls: Paul Pogba close to sealing Juventus move

Paul Pogba has called time on his second spell at Manchester United. The French midfielder failed to impose himself as the club’s midfield lynchpin, often drawing the ire of fans and pundits alike. Having had his fill of brickbats and stale football, the Frenchman-reports Fabrizio Romano- has reached a verbal agreement with ex-flame Juventus.  

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Pogba spent his best years in club colours at the Italian giants, winning four Scudettos in four seasons in Turin. Having famously angered Sir Alex Ferguson a decade ago by refusing to extend his contract with the Old Trafford club, Pogba moved on a free to the Old Lady. Forming a formidable midfield partnership with Miralem Pjanic and the eternal Andrea Pirlo, Pogba and Juventus swept all before them in Italy. In his 128 appearances with the club, the mercurial player netted 28 goals. A creative force par excellence, Pogba would also register a personal best of 12 assists in his final Serie A season, tying teammate Pjanic for the top spot in the assists charts.   

While the Juve faithful have fond memories of the World Cup winner, United fans seized on his every mistake, often making him the poster boy of the club’s wider malaise. In a team lacking direction and cohesion, Pogba was often confused about his role in the eleven. Not considering Roy Keane’s hyper thrash punditry, it’s worth asking if any of his United managers had a consistent role earmarked for him. Was he a box-to-box midfield dynamo, a screen for the United defence, a no. 10 or all of the above?!  

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Irrespective, the Frenchman did turn in some sterling performances. The second half against Manchester City remains fresh in the memory, as Pogba powered United to a 2-3 win after trailing Guardiola’s side 2-0 at halftime! But such moments were rare in Manchester. As United lurched from crisis to crisis, Pogba was perhaps more visible at the barbers than on the pitch. Sulking through games, his time at Old Trafford was a damp squib all said and done. 

But as Juve rebuilds after two poor seasons, old-boss Allegri has eyed Pogba to give his team the kind of lift-off it needs. The 29-year-old has been offered a net salary of €8 million ($8.38 million) by the record Serie A champions and is likely to announce his transfer next month, rejecting Manchester City’s advances. In a deal that costs the Bianconeri not a penny in transfer fees, United officials will be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu. Losing him for free in 2012, United would spend a world-record £93.2 million ($113 million) on the Frenchman to acquire his services. After six fractious seasons, Pogba departs under a similar circumstance.