Milan had a deal for Paul Pogba eight months before Juventus poached him from Manchester United, but they pulled out, claims their former chief scout.
Mauro Bianchessi was in charge of scouting for the Rossoneri from 2007 to 2017, when he left to take up the same role at Lazio.
During that time, he came close to some spectacular signings, but the one that he regrets the most could’ve been a goldmine for Milan.
“When Pogba was not yet Pogba, I tried and had with Adriano Galliani been able to reach an agreement a good eight months before Juve,” Bianchessi told MilanNews.it.
“However, at that moment and for various reasons, the club owners decided to say no. It’s a pity.”
Pogba eventually did leave Manchester United as a free agent for Juventus when his contract expired in August 2012.
The future World Cup winner then returned to Old Trafford for a staggering €105m fee plus bonuses in 2016, but it all could’ve been very different if Milan had followed up on their agreement for the then-teenage midfielder.
Curiously, the Rossoneri coach at that time was Max Allegri, who would later work with Pogba at Juve.
Patron Silvio Berlusconi sold the club in April 2017.
ESCLUSIVA MN – Bianchessi: “Spero che Pobega resti al Milan. Con Galliani avevamo in mano Pogba ma la proprietà non affondò il colpo” https://t.co/ZsWd7nush4
— MilanNews.it (@MilanNewsit) July 20, 2021