Massimo Mauro believes that Paul Pogba would ‘be an important player’ in the Juventus midfield but noted that he alone wouldn’t fix their issues.
The 28-year-old Frenchman’s contract expires with Manchester United at the end of this season and a renewal is not set to be signed, meaning that he’ll be able to join a new club on a free transfer in the summer. The Bianconeri are keen to pick him up and are reportedly preparing a €10m total net per season contract to try and convince him of a move.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mauro first discussed if Pogba would be the right man for Juventus.
“Pogba consecrated himself in the World Cup he won with France, in that tournament he really brought Deschamps’ entire midfield with him. Not as a regista, but as a midfielder he is certainly still a young player who can make the difference.
“In Italy he was also physically overpowering when he played steadily with Conte. Antonio made it clear to him that he’d be benched if he didn’t quicken and remove frills from his game, and he did.
“He was dominant in the opponent’s penalty area, nobody could hold him in those years. So much so that Juve sold him for €110m.”
He touched on some possible negative repercussions of signing the Frenchman in the summer.
“From the things you hear he didn’t make United fans and coaches fall in love with him. If you don’t know him well when you see him, sometimes he seems a bit arrogant, with that body language that’s a bit like he’s doing you a favour by playing.
“That’s the main reason Ferguson, who usually ‘saw’ talent, let him leave for free the first time he came to Juve.”
Mauro commented on if Pogba will be the man to fix Juventus’ midfield.
“The Pogba seen in Turin would certainly be an important player, provided Juve find a high-level regista.
“Even with him there would always be a lack of a playmaker, someone who holds the ball, who takes responsibility for getting the team moving, especially if you play with a 4-3-3. Then it’s clear that you can adapt, with Pogba and Locatelli, with a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2.”
The former Juventus midfielder noted how the Frenchman’s arrival would increase the physical presence in the centre of the pitch.
“Yes, all big and bulky. One thing that is sometimes underlined is the importance of headers in midfield, if you always get the ball on your head, it goes back into the opposition’s half.
“Another important thing is that they’re all big players, but not slow, in fact they’re almost fast in the first few metres.”
Finally, Mauro discussed how Paulo Dybala would fit into this team, should he sign a new contract in the coming months.
“He, Chiesa and Vlahovic are an attack that has the potential to score enough goals to reach the Scudetto and the top four of the Champions League.
“Even if we have to wait to see him in the big games, from the European quarter-finals onwards, or in the big matches for the title. Those are the stages where the real players make you understand, I’ll take care of it now.”
MAURO su Pogba: “Sarebbe un giocatore importante, sempre https://t.co/RyqCQolozE #Juventus #MassimoMauro #pogbajuve #juventus #newsjuventus
— MondoBianconero.com Juventus News (@MondoBN) March 5, 2022
Waiting for the Pog
No body wants him
I’ rather have fagioli and rovella added to Juve’s midfield and see Rabiot out and Zanilo in .