For the third time in his career, Paul Pogba has moved clubs between Manchester United and Juventus. The maverick Frenchman, 29, completed a free agent switch on Monday and will hope his second spell in Turin can match his first.
Indeed, Juventus won four successive Serie A title during his four-year stint at the club between 2012-16. The domestic double was also secured in two of those campaigns.
During his previous spell at Juve, Pogba was most often deployed on the left of a three-man midfield.
Andrea Pirlo pulled the strings while anchoring the midfield, with workhorse Arturo Vidal helping to bed in alongside the classy Italian when Pogba ventured forward.
However, Pogba’s time at United saw him mainly used in a double pivot or behind the striker. Once Bruno Fernandes arrived and made the No. 10 role his own, Pogba was even shunted out onto the wing on occasion.
Now, speaking to Sky Sports, French football expert, Julien Laurens, suggested we could see the best of Pogba at club level once more if allowed to play in his favourite position. Laurens reaffirmed that was something that didn’t happen enough at United.
United didn’t utilise Pogba properly?
“He could’ve stayed at Manchester United if things had turned out a bit differently,” said Laurens. “When Paul Pogba decided to leave, there were only really a few options on the table.
“Juventus was one, PSG was another one and certainly there was the possibility when Leonardo was sporting director that might have happened. Now that Leonardo has been sacked, it was only really Juventus.
“This is fine with Paul as he had so many happy years there, leaving six years ago to come back to United. It’s a funny career path – going back and forth – but he feels at home in Turin. Juventus need a player like him as they need to strengthen the midfield.
“He will finally be able to play in his favourite position, which is something that didn’t happen enough for him at United.
“Italian football is very different to the Premier League and at his age no, I feel this really suits the way he plays.”
United smart to sever ties
There had been talk of United tabling a late contract offer to Pogba. It is hard to see how that scenario could have been to the club’s benefit in the long run.
Pogba never truly hit the heights at Old Trafford and increasingly began to struggle with injury.
He was already one of the highest paid players at the club. Ridding their books of his salary will allow players more suited to Erik ten Hag’s style to be signed.
Pogba regularly gets through his fair share of defensive work for France. However, the same cannot be said when he wore a United shirt.
The Red Devils are already carrying a defensive passenger in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo. A team that set their new record for most goals conceded in a Premier League season cannot carry a second.
