Paul Pogba

[Socrates 8414]

 

'€100m not enough for Pogba'

http://www.football-italia.net/77716/%E2%82%AC100m-not-enough-pogba

 
Jan 1, 2016

Agent Mino Raiola claims “€100m won’t be enough” to prise Paul Pogba from Juventus, advises Simone Zaza to stay and expects Alvaro Morata at Real Madrid.

The transfer guru gave a lengthy interview with Tuttosport newspaper covering a range of topics, including one of his most famous clients.

“Juve made the coup of the summer by keeping Pogba. Manchester United overpaid the most with €80m for Anthony Martial, so Monaco made a great deal there.

“What are the chances of Pogba staying next season? We don’t know yet. Paul will decide based on the offers on the table and what he feels inside. He was already in the same situation last summer.

“The player has grown and with him his price-tag, so I think €100m won’t be enough. It depends on (President Andrea) Agnelli.

“I can say for certain that the fact Paul decided to stay shows how much he has invested in Juve. The club invested in him too, by giving up on many millions in transfer fees.

“There is a strong bond between Pogba and Juve, while Paul is someone who thinks with his heart. He felt that was not the right moment to leave and in the end he was right. He remained and helped lift Juventus back up after initial difficulties this season, when the fans even jeered him unfairly. Many would’ve crumbled in his position.

“Pogba was not irritated by the jeers, but I was. In any case, they won’t affect the decisions in July. We are not children, we aren’t after revenge.

“There haven’t been many calls to my phone for Pogba because so few can afford him, like a limited edition Ferrari. Are Barcelona in pole position? No, the only favourites are Juve.”

Raiola shrugged off questions about the Ballon d’Or, insisting it’s “not a real award, otherwise Zlatan Ibrahimovic would’ve won it at least once because he’s been the best striker over the last 10 years. He proved his worth everywhere, while Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stayed at the same top clubs, supported by champions.”

Sticking with Juventus, Raiola was asked for his opinion on West Ham target Zaza.

“I’d advise him to stay at Juve and play more often, it’s the team that must believe in him. The secret of all great Number 9 forwards is that they convince their teammates to have faith, it’s something a Coach cannot impose on others.”

Morata is at Juventus in a complicated deal with options and counter-options for Real Madrid, so where will he be next season?

“I think Real,” replied Raiola.

“Oscar has a 30 per cent chance of joining Juve, while for Henrikh Mkhitaryan it’s 50 per cent.

“Juve will win the Scudetto, as they are the strongest team. I am really impressed by Paulo Sousa, Maurizio Sarri and Sinisa Mihajlovic, though. And Roberto Mancini’s Inter reminds me of the side they had with Ibra.”

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba: 'I've done nothing yet'

http://www.football-italia.net/77742/pogba-ive-done-nothing-yet?

 
Jan 2, 2016

Paul Pogba “wants to honour” the Juventus Number 10 jersey, learns from Andres Iniesta and welcomes Bayern Munich.

The Frenchman spoke to Turin-based newspaper La Stampa about what he expects from 2016.

“The last few months have been different to previous years, when we were always top of the table. Things have changed.

“I also treasure the defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League Final. We lost, but as they say, you learn from defeats and mistakes. I want to win it one day.

“Obviously without Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez it is a different Juventus. There’s more responsibility on the other players and we have to focus more on working as a unit. The same is true for me.

“Before I had Pirlo by my side and one of our opponents was always marking him. Now they put the same marker on me.

“I have to find the right moment to make the pass. I must learn and for that I watch Iniesta.”

There was controversy when Pogba inherited the Number 10 jersey, especially after he scrawled ‘+5’ on the back in pen.

“I am not a classic Number 10 for my position on the field. I consider myself a midfielder and it is an honour to wear the number of so many Ballon d’Or winners.

“In the history of Juve it is a very important shirt and I want to honour it. When I look at the jersey, I do not see the number or even my name, I only see Juve: with the desire to give 100 per cent. And win.”

Pogba also has faith in the Bianconeri winning a fifth consecutive Scudetto, despite their worst start in decades.

“You can’t say we are any better or worse than last season, but the other teams have certainly strengthened. Having said that, we are not afraid of anyone.

“I am not surprised by Paulo Dybala, as he is my phenomenon. I love his technique and have always been crazy about left-footed players. That’s why I am learning to shoot with my left foot.

“I think Dybala can win the Ballon d’Or. We call him ‘R2 Squared,’ because those are the buttons you press on the Playstation to get his curling shot. He always scores like that.”

Juventus will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League next month, but Pogba is not concerned.

“On the one hand we could’ve got an easier draw, but on the other it’s good that everyone expects us to lose. They said the same in the semi-final against Real Madrid last season.

“It’s tough to play against Vidal, though. I am nobody yet, I’ve done nothing in my career.”

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba: Man Utd was like a holiday
compared to Juventus work ethic

The France midfielder says there is a "different culture" in Turin and compared
the professionalism of his former club unfavourably with his current employers.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1862/premier-league/2016/01/02/18912282/-?

 
Jan 2, 2016

Paul Pogba has described life at Manchester United as being "like a holiday" compared to the work ethic demanded at Juventus.

The France international left Old Trafford in 2012 and has gone on to win three Serie A titles in Italy in addition to reaching last season's Champions League final.

United were managed by 13-time English champion Sir Alex Ferguson during Pogba's period in Manchester but the 22-year-old claims far more is expected of players in Turin.

"People need to know that nothing at Juve is easy," he said to La Stampa. "There is a different culture of work compared to elsewhere. I was at Manchester - it seemed like being on holiday.

"Here we work so much. All these titles, we did not steal them. It was by working right to the end."

Pogba has been tipped as a future Ballon d'Or winner but believes he may face competition from one of his own team-mates in summer signing Paulo Dybala, who joined Juventus from Palermo in June.

"He can get there," Pogba said when asked about comparisons between the Argentine and Lionel Messi.

"Do you know what I call him? Square R2, the button that you have to push on a PlayStation to do a shot on the turn - he always gets goals like that.

"Has he surprised me? No, because I always said he was a phenomenon. To do what he has done, playing for Juve, is something>

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba inspired by Iniesta

The Juventus No.10 believes there is no one better in the business of setting
chances than his Barcelona counterpart, and discusses his role at the club.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/01/02/18910752/pogba-inspired-by-iniesta?ICID=TP_HN_1

 
Jan 2, 2016

Paul Pogba is taking inspiration from Barcelona's Andres Iniesta as he learns to live with more responsibility at Juventus following Andrea Pirlo's departure.

Juve released the Italy legend, together with Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal over the summer, thus increasing the focus on Pogba to step up as the team's leader.

But despite initially appearing to falter under the pressure of delivering in their absence as the Bianconeri set out to retain the Serie A title, the 22-year-old has roared back since.

And Pogba has now come out to shed light on the source of his struggles at first, and how he overcame them by taking lessons from Iniesta.

"Obviously without Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez it is a different Juventus. There's more responsibility on the other players and we have to focus more on working as a unit," he told La Stampa.

"The same is true for me. Before I had Pirlo by my side and one of our opponents was always marking him. Now they put the same marker on me.

"I have to find the right moment to make the pass. I must learn, and for that I watch Iniesta."

Pogba was handed the iconic Juventus number 10 jersey following Tevez's departure – a shirt worn previously by the likes of Michel Platini, Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Del Piero – despite not being an orthodox playmaker.

But the former Manchester United outcast has said the pride he feels remains undiminished, continuing: "I am not a classic number 10 for my position on the field.

"I consider myself a midfielder and it is an honour to wear the number of so many Ballon d'Or winners. In the history of Juve it is a very important shirt and I want to honour it.

When I look at the jersey, I do not see the number or even my name, I only see Juve: with the desire to give 100 per cent. And win."

Juve's early-season struggles have since given way to a seven-match winning run in Serie A which has taken Massimiliano Allegri's men up to fourth - three points behind leaders Inter - and Pogba is confident about their season.

"The last few months have been different to previous years, when we were always top of the table. Things have changed," he concluded.

"You can't say we are any better or worse than last season, but the other teams have certainly strengthened. Having said that, we are not afraid of anyone."

[Socrates 8414]

 

Guardiola Wants Juventus Star At Manchester City

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/guardiola-wants-juventus-star-at-manchester-city/?

 
Jan 7, 2016

Pep Guardiola has identified Juventus star Paul Pogba as a target for when he potentially joins Manchester City next summer.

The current Bayern Munich coach will leave the German club at the end of the season, and with the Citizens being his most likely next job, he will try to sign several players, including Lionel Messi.

Paul Pogba is amongst these, according to The Sun, as Guardiola will try to build a young team to leave a dynasty at Manchester City.

The Juventus number 10 has struggled like his teammates in the first portion of this season, but has emerged recently and overall put together four goals and seven assists in 25 appearances, which keeps him amongst the most talented and desired young midfielders.

It is still unclear whether or not Guardiola will join City, but if so the club are reportedly happy to financially back the Spaniard’s big transfer plans, which include signing Bayern’s David Alaba and Barcelona’s Gerard Pique.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Real Madrid Plot Colossal Bid For Juventus Star

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/real-madrid-plot-colossal-bid-for-juventus-starlet/?

 
Jan 9, 2016

Real Madrid are reportedly readying a mammoth bid for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, as they aim to defeat their rivals in the hotly contested race to sign him.

Whilst their Spanish counterparts Barcelona had previously attempted to entice the Frenchman to the Camp Nou last summer, Madrid are now willing to outbid their competition by offering a gigantic transfer fee.

The Sun have reported that Zinedine Zidane’s men are willing to pay an estimated €130 million fee for the player, who is also a target for both Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

It has previously been stated that Pogba would possibly prefer a move to Catalonia, although the recent appointment of French compatriot Zidane at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu could may influence the 22-year-old’s decision in the future.

Having joined the Turin outfit from Manchester Untied in 2012, Pogba has since gone on to make 106 Serie A appearances for the club, winning three Italian league titles, as well as one Coppa Italia.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Revealed: Pogba named in 2015
FIFA FIFPro World XI

The Juventus midfielder has been selected in the best team of the year, which
will be revealed in full at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich on Monday evening.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2016/01/11/19175412/-?

 
Jan 11, 2016

Juventus star Paul Pogba has been named in the 2015 FIFA FIFPro World XI, Goal can confirm.

It is a debut appearance for the French midfielder in the best team of the year as voted for by professional footballers from around the world.

The full team will be revealed at the 2015 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich on Monday evening, but Goal’s sources in Italy have learned that Juventus have been requested to send Pogba to Switzerland to collect his award.

The 22-year-old earned his place in the ultimate XI after a magnificent 2014-15 season in which he helped lead Juventus to the domestic double and the final of the Champions League – scoring 10 goals in all competitions.

FIFPro is the worldwide representative organisation for all professional footballers; more than 65,000 players in total, male and female.

Each professional is granted a vote for the FIFA FIFPro World XI, which has been chosen annually since 2005. The final XI is arranged in a 4-3-3 formation.

Last year’s team was: Manuel Neuer; Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Philipp Lahm; Andres Iniesta, Toni Kroos, Angel di Maria; Arjen Robben, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

Pogba will become the first Juventus player to make the FIFPro World XI since Gianluigi Buffon in 2007.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Paul Pogba has been dabbing around the world

After introducing the soccer world to the dab, Paul Pogba took the dance on a global tour.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/11/10745736/paul-pogba-has-been-dabbing-around-the-world

 
Jan 11, 2016

A few months ago, NFL quarterback Cam Newton of my hometown Carolina Panthers introduced the dab dance to the world in spectacular fashion, trolling the Tennessee Titans not once, not twice but four times in the same touchdown celebration.

Since then, the dab has spread like wildfire, from tiny children to old ladies, and now it's hit the footballing world. Paul Pogba was the first to hit his dab after scoring the winner against Carpi on December 20th.

He soon brought his new bestie Paulo Dybala in on the action and enlisted Pavel Nedved's help to create possibly the most legendary dab photo we've seen to date.

Since then, Paul has gone on a dab rampage. During the Serie A winter break he hit Dubai to dab with Leo Messi.

He then hopped back over to Italy to kick it with Mario Balotelli and hit yet another legendary dab, despite some questionable fashion choices on both of their parts.

Pogboom even unveiled a brand new dab haircut, further outlining his commitment to the dab cause.


Paul Pogba ✔ @paulpogba
Back to work Dab team is back #pogboom#JuveVerona#juventusfc

The Pogdab influence has permeated Juve, with Bonucci even getting in on the action after a commanding 3-0 win over Hellas Verona.


Paul Pogba ✔ @paulpogba
First game of the year well done guys #dab team#dydy#leo#pogba

In Sunday night's match against Sampdoria, Pogba scored yet another beautiful goal and followed it with yet another in-game and post-game dab. I guess you could say it's lit.

Cam Newton owns the dab in football, and Paul Pogba owns it in calcio. When will the Pogdab be unveiled again? Let's hope soon. My sincere wish is that he scores so many goals this season we get to see it every game, and opposing fans hate it more than they already do. It's a win-win scenario IMO.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Muted Messi outshone by Pogba on Ballon d'Or red carpet

There were no burgundy tuxedos nor polka dots on display from the four-time winner
this time round, and his plain black threads were no match for the Juventus star's unique look.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/4160/extra-time/2016/01/11/19219202/-?

 
Jan 11, 2016

Lionel Messi usually grabs all the attention on the Ballon d'Or red carpet, but this year the Barcelona star has been outdone by the outlandish Paul Pogba in Zurich.

The Argentine is known for his rather unorthodox fashion sense when it comes to awards tuxedos, and has sported everything from a fetching burgundy number to polka dots in previous years.

But for the 2015 ceremony, he picked a standard black outfit which was elegant rather than eye-catching.

It was Juventus star Pogba, however, who captured all the gazes with a sparkling black and gold effort, taking Messi's crown as the Ballon d'Or's most extravagant dresser.


JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen
It's a family affair as @paulpogba is joined by his mother in Zurich.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba in World XI

http://www.football-italia.net/78220/pogba-world-xi?

 
Jan 11, 2016

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been named in the FIFPro World XI for 2015.

The French midfielder helped the Bianconeri to a domestic double and the Champions League final, and was included in the team of the year at today’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Pogba is the only Serie A representative in the team, with Manuel Neuer beating teammate Gianluigi Buffon to the goalkeeping spot.

No Italian players made the final cut, with Marco Verratti, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Pirlo having been on the original shortlist along with Buffon.

The three final candidates for the Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi and Neymar of Barcelona and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo take the attacking slots.


FIFPro World XI 2015:

Neuer; Marcelo, Silva, Ramos, Alves; Iniesta, Modric, Pogba; Neymar, Messi Ronaldo

[Socrates 8414]

 

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba
named to FIFPro World XI

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/1/11/10750412/juventus-midfielder-paul-pogba-named-to-fifpro-world-xi

 
Jan 11, 2016

A few weeks back, some people complained about Paul Pogba being in the No. 11 spot in The Guardian's Top 100 Footballers in 2015 list. That was the elite of the elite, a group in which is reserved for a selection of players that those people felt the 22-year-old midfielder might not have broken into just yet despite his insane amount of talent.

I wonder what they're saying now.

Pogba, in his flashy gold tuxedo jacket, was named to the FIFPro World XI for the first time in his career Monday night in Zurich. In a squad otherwise filled with players from Barcelona and Real Madrid, Pogba was the only representative from the other team that played in the Champions League final back at the beginning of June.

"It's an honour for me to be here and I hope that it won't be the last time. This year the European Championships are in France. Hopefully we'll win them in front of our home support again like in the past."

(Source: juventus.com)

Here is the rest of the starting XI for the FIFPro squad, as voted on by more than 20,000 professional footballers from around the world.


FIFA.com ✔ @FIFAcom
Here are the stars voted in to make up the FIFA/@FIFPro World XI

You can squabble about the merits of some of those that joined Pogba. Lord knows there's probably another Juventus player or two — cough cough Leonardo Bonucci cough cough Gianluigi Buffon cough cough — that deserved at least serious consideration to be included in the team above. But, because Barcelona and Real Madrid dominate these things every year, it's no surprise to see eight of the 11 starting spots go to players from Barca/Madrid/La Liga.

But Juventus got their much-deserved representation in Pogba, who will certainly be appearing on this list time and time again if he continues to go on the same career arc that he's currently riding. He will continue to become one of the best and most well-known players in the world, he will continue to dab after goals he and/or his teammates score and he will go on to win more and more awards because he's just that damn good.

And he's a Juventus player first and foremost. That's a pretty nice thing to say.

Oh yeah, this also happened before Pogba left the building. Yes, Andrea Agnelli is the president of Juventus. When you got him dabbing, you know you're doing something right.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba signs... a Barcelona shirt?!

The midfielder has long been linked with a Juventus exit, with Barcelona thought
to interested, but the 22-year-old insisted talk of the Ballon d'Or incident meant nothing.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/13712/extra-time/2016/01/12/19245462/-?

 
Jan 12, 2016

Has Paul Pogba hinted that he is interested in signing for Barcelona?!

Well, perhaps not, but the Juventus star uploaded a video of himself signing his autograph on a Barcelona shirt at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, where he was named alongside four Barca and four Real Madrid stars in the FifPro World XI.

Pogba has long been linked with a move to Camp Nou with his future in Serie A expected to come to a head in the summer as the list of admirers - reportedly including the likes of Manchester City - continues to grow.

"I hope one day I can win the Ballon d'Or, but there's a lot of work to be done," Pogba told Mediaset in Zurich. "I hope to continue like this, and today is a great victory when I think about where I started.

"I'm happy for myself, but even more for all the people who helped me get to this stage."

But, how about penning your name across the Catalan club's colours, Paul?

"It did not mean anything," he insisted.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba: ‘Happy at Juventus’

http://www.football-italia.net/78249/pogba-%E2%80%98happy-juventus%E2%80%99?

 
Jan 12, 2016

Paul Pogba declares “I”m at Juventus and I’m happy” but would like to play with Lionel Messi.

The midfielder was named in the FIFPro World XI at last night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, and spoke to L’Equipe about his future.

“It’s an honour to be compared to such big stars,” Pogba acknowledged.

“I’m at Juventus, and I’m happy. The biggest goal is to win the Ballon d’Or one day, and being in the XI is an honour for me.

“I’ll work to at least be among the three finalists for the Ballon d’Or, but there are many great players ahead of me and I’m a midfielder, not a striker…”

“Neymar? He’s a great striker, a great player. He had a great year. I was watching these guys [Neymar, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo] on TV, I played as them on the Playstation, now I’m alongside them.

“My goal is not just to be next to them, it’s to play on the same level or exceed them, that’s the goal.”

Despite affirming his happiness in Turin, the French international admitted he’d like to play alongside Barcelona star Messi.

“He’s a fantastic player, and as with all great players, I’d like to play with him.”

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba denies saying he wants Barcelona transfer

The French midfielder is focused on Juventus at the moment, but says wants
to be better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the future.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2016/01/12/19251952/-?

 
Jan 12, 2016

Paul Pogba has denied he wants to join Barcelona, but spoke of his desire to one day surpass Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Juventus midfielder was named in the 2015 FIFPro World XI after helping the Serie A outfit win the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, and reach the Champions League final.

Pogba was present in Zurich on Monday as Messi won a record fifth Ballon d'Or crown, finishing in front of Real Madrid's Ronaldo.

The 22-year-old said a goal of his is to finish ahead of the two in the future, but claimed he's never said he wanted to sign for Barca.

"I've never said that," he told reporters in Zurich. "Right now I am playing with Juventus."

On his lofty ambitions, he continued: "Maybe one day I can be among the three finalists. My biggest goal is to win the Ballon d'Or, but there are a lot of other candidates.

"I used to watch Messi and Ronaldo on TV and played with them on the Playstation - now I am close to them.

"But my objective is not just to be close to them, I want to be better than them one day. It is all about putting in the work. I have to keep working hard and maybe I will get there."

[Socrates 8414]

 

RUMOURS: Zidane wants to beat Barca to Pogba

The French coach wants his compatriot to be his first big signing at Real Madrid,
but faces competition from Catalonia to land the Juventus midfielder.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2016/01/13/19282182/-?

 
Jan 13, 2016

Zinedine Zidane wants to make Paul Pogba his first galactico signing at Real Madrid, according to reports in AS.

The new head coach at the Santiago Bernabeu made the switch from Juventus to the Spanish capital himself in 2001 and now wants his fellow Frenchman to follow in his footsteps.

However, it will not be a straight forward deal, as Barcelona are also keen on the midfielder.

Ariedo Braida and Albert Soler fronted a delegation from the Catalan club which travelled to Turin last summer to talk with Juve about Pogba.

At the time they were under a transfer ban, so were unable to push the deal through, while the club are also struggling to pay what the Serie A side want for the 22-year-old.

Zidane has always spoken highly of Pogba, who in return has always admired the man who won the World Cup and European Championships with France.

Madrid’s problem is that their relationship with the player’s agent, Mino Raiola, broke down when Carlo Ancelotti ruled out a move for Pogba last summer.

AS add, though, that Los Blancos would be happy to make up with Raiola in order to fulfil Zidane’s request and get one over on Barca.

Pogba, who was named in the FIFPro Team of the Year earlier this week at the Ballon d’Or gala, has a contract with Juventus until 2019.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Zidane wants Pogba at Real?

http://www.football-italia.net/78285/zidane-wants-pogba-real?

 
Jan 13, 2016

New Real Madrid Coach Zinedine Zidane is determined to challenge Barcelona for Juventus’ Paul Pogba, say Spanish reports.

Former Juve player Zidane took over from Rafa Benitez at the Santiago Bernabeu this month and is believed to want Pogba to follow in his footsteps by moving to Spain.

Spanish outlet AS writes today that Zidane wants his compatriot to be his first ‘Galactico’ signing, despite Barcelona’s long-time interest in the midfielder.

Pogba is valued at around €100m and the report says that this would be more of an issue for Barca than it would be for Real, who spent a similar figure on Gareth Bale in 2013.

However, the newspaper points to Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola as a possible stumbling block for the Merengues.

They believe that Raiola was offended when Carlo Ancelotti discarded the possibility of signing Pogba while Madrid coach, responding by saying: “We don’t want him to sign with a team like Real Madrid. They treat players as if they were towels; they use them and then throw them away.”

Pogba’s contract at Juve runs until 2019 and the Bianconeri will not let him go easily, but he appears set to be at the centre of a bidding war between the two La Liga giants.

[Socrates 8414]

 

REAL MADRID V BARCELONA FOR PAUL POGBA

http://www.juvefc.com/real-madrid-v-barcelona-for-paul-pogba/?

 
Jan 13, 2016

Real Madrid will go head-to-head with rivals Barcelona in a bid to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

…At least that’s according AS. The Spanish sports daily believes new Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane wants his fellow Frenchman at Real and has made him their number 1 priority.

If they do have intentions of signing the 22-year-old, they’ll have to go up against long time admirers and arch-rivals Barcelona, who have already made a bid for the player as recently as last summer.

For now, it’s all just paper-talk and that amounts to precious little in the real-world. Why mention it i hear you ask? Well mainly so that I could recap that Pogba said just a day ago: “I’m at Juventus, and I’m happy.”

Will he remain another season? It’s difficult to say. He only ever speaks in the highest regards when he discusses the club and his teammates. He’s adored by the supporters, he’s become a mainstay of the starting XI and he’s still got so much to offer. At the same time, the Barcelona’s and Real’s of this world will always attract the best players because of what they can offer. They have the money, they each have teams full of superstars and they generally tend to win something every season.

Contrast this with Beppe Marotta reiterating at every opportunity that our players are not for sale, no matter how much is offered, along with how much emphasis we’re placing on building a team for the future. Surely Pogba would be an integral part of that? What can €100m buy you when you already have a strong squad coupled with having deals in place for the most promising young talent around Italy?

Speaking personally, my hope is that we turn down the money and keep young Paul at the club for many years to come, provided that’s what he wants as well. After years in the doldrums, we’ve finally built something that’s worth keeping together. A team that understands one another on the pitch, while off the pitch, the President and his directors are doing sterling work to grow the brand while planting the seeds for the future.

Transfer rumours….they’re the bane of any websites existence. They’ll get you the hits but they rarely stand up to any scrutiny. Anyway, i digress. Here’s a poll for you to participate in:


Where will Pogba be heading to in the summer?

Real Madrid to jon Zidanes revolution 19%

Barcelona to play alongside Messi 29%

Nowhere, he's happy at Juve and he'll stay 52%

Votes 112

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba wants Barcelona?

http://www.football-italia.net/78430/pogba-wants-barcelona?

 
Jan 15, 2016

Reports in Spain claim Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba wants to move to Barcelona this summer.

The 22-year-old is under contract with the Bianconeri until 2019, and said this week that he is happy in Turin.

Despite this, the Frenchman has been consistently linked with a move away, with Barça having an €80m bid turned down this summer.

That hasn’t stopped Mundo Deportivo from claiming Pogba could leave this summer, reporting that agent Mino Raiola is already working on a move for after Euro 2016.

The newspaper believes that Pogba’s preferred destination is Camp Nou, insisting that the player told Lionel Messi at the Ballon d’Or ceremony that he’d like to move to Catalonia.

Mundo Deportivo claims Pogba is not keen to return to the English Premier League after his experience with Manchester United, and is also not convinced by Paris Saint-Germain.

However, the paper also notes that Juventus would be likely to ask for around €100m for one of their star men.

In addition, the salary Pogba would likely command could cause additional problems, with Neymar, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets all currently negotiating new deals.

If Pogba came in on higher wages than some of the current stars of the team, it could force the Blaugrana to raise the wages of such players.

[Socrates 8414]

 

RUMOURS: Pogba's private message to Messi
at the Ballon d'Or awards

The Juventus midfielder does not want to return to the Premier League,
or join Paris Saint-Germain, and remains keen on a move to Barcelona.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2016/01/16/19408972/-?

 
Jan 16, 2016

Paul Pogba has reportedly told Lionel Messi that he wants to play alongside him at Barcelona.

The duo met at Monday’s Ballon d’Or awards where the Barcelona star picked up the main award for the fifth time in his career.

Pogba has been constantly linked with a move to the Spanish champions, and according to Mundo Deportivo, the France international told Messi at the awards ceremony: ”I love to play with you at the club".

The report also claims that Pogba was impressed by Barcelona’s display against Juventus in last season’s Champions League final, and he has no interest in either returning to the Premier League or playing for Paris Saint-Germain.

Having blocked Pogba from leaving the Italian champions last summer, Barcelona are believed to have the transfer under control thanks to the excellent relationship between Ariedo Braida, Barcelona’s international sporting director, and Beppe Marotta, Juventus’ director general.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Andrea Pirlo Says Juventus' Paul Pogba
Is the Best Youngster He's Ever Seen

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2609489-andrea-pirlo-says-juventus-paul-pogba-is-the-best-youngster-hes-ever-seen?

 
Jan 20, 2016

He's in high demand across Europe, and now a former teammate and Italian legend has heaped praise on Juventus star Paul Pogba.

The 22-year-old is playing a starring role for the resurgent defending Serie A champions, and 2006 World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo isn't surprised, labelling him the best young prospect he has ever seen.

Massimo Pinca./Associated Press
"Pogba is the best youngster I have seen. We understood he was a great player from his first training session," Pirlo told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (via Goal.com). "He was skinny but his legs allowed him to be everywhere. Now he is bigger and stronger."

Pirlo, who left for New York City FC in the summer, spent 10 years with AC Milan before joining Juventus in 2011, where he won three straight league titles alongside Pogba from 2013-2015.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Pogba reveals incredible new leopard-inspired hairstyle

The 22-year-old has taken to social media to show off his
new hair ahead of Juventus' Serie A game against Roma on Sunday.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/4160/extra-time/2016/01/24/19639672/-?

 
Jan 24, 2016

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is usually in the news for his eye-catching performances on the pitch, but it’s an eye-catching new hair-do which has caught the attention this time.

The France international’s new hairstyle features a leopard-inspired design and is guaranteed to stand out on pitches across Italy.

Pogba, 22, revealed his new look in a video on his Instagram account ahead of the Serie A game with Roma on Sunday.

Following a slow start to the league season, Juve have embarked on a 10-game winning run and find themselves second in Serie A, two points behind leaders Napoli.

Pogba is in good form, too, scoring three goals in his last five outings - will he be able to get even better now he’s got his new wild cat hairstyle?

[Socrates 8414]

 

West Ham United Defender Reveals
The Best Player He Has Played With

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/01/west-ham-united-defender-reveals-the-best-player-he-has-played-with/?

 
Jan 29, 2016

Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United believes Juventus star Paul Pogba is the best player he has played with during his career so far.

The two played together at the Bianconeri since 2013, when Ogbonna made the cross-city switch from Torino, with Pogba having joined from Manchester United the previous year.

“The best is Paul Pogba,” Ogbonna said in an interview with giornalaccio rosa World. “It’s not just Pogba, though.”

“I was really lucky to have played with a lot of great players like Buffon, Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez, too.”

[Socrates 8414]

 

Paul Pogba tops Pep Guardiola's wishlist?

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/transfer-talk/news/paul-pogba-tops-pep-guardiolas-wishlist_265574.html

 
Feb 2, 2016

Pep Guardiola has reportedly instructed Manchester City officials to secure him the services of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba this summer.

It was announced yesterday that the coveted Spanish head coach, who is currently in the Bayern Munich dugout, had agreed to take charge at the Etihad Stadium in July.

According to the Daily Mail, one of Guardiola's first acts has been to make France international Pogba his main transfer target.

The report adds that City are prepared to part with up to £80m to ensure that the 22-year-old rejects expected interest from Barcelona and Chelsea.

Pogba has made over 150 appearances for Juve following his arrival from City's rivals Manchester United in 2012.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Real Madrid Preparing To Enter
Pogba Race With Mega Offer

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2016/02/real-madrid-preparing-to-enter-pogba-race-with-mega-offer/?

 
Feb 4, 2016

Real Madrid are planning to test Juventus’ resolve in the summer with a huge offer for midfielder Paul Pogba.

Pogba is no stranger to interest having already been courted by the likes of Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea in the past, but any summer auction is set to be made even more complicated after Real Madrid finally registered their interest.

The Juventus fan favourite has soared to the top of Real Madrid’s wishlist, report AS.

Los Blancos’ French coach Zinedine Zidane is a big fan of his countryman, who is set to star for the country in the summer when they host Euro 2016.

Real Madrid had previously considered Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski to be their number one target, but it’s now understood that they would much rather see Pogba at the club with the player still only 22.

Manchester City are now widely expected to chase Pogba again in the summer after Pep Guardiola announced that he will be taking over at the Premier League giants at the end of the season.

[Socrates 8414]

 

Trezeguet: 'Juve right for Pogba'

http://www.football-italia.net/79476/trezeguet-juve-right-pogba?

 
Feb 6, 2016

David Trezeguet discussed his Juventus career, Marcello Lippi and hopes Paul Pogba “can stay in Turin for many years.”

The former striker spoke to Sky Sport Italia programme I Signori del Calcio and took a fond look back.

“If I have to say the Coach who gave me the most throughout my career, I have no doubts it is Marcello Lippi. First of all because I didn’t know him, but when I saw him arrive at training the first day I immediately saw the enthusiasm he engendered in the fans and my teammates.

“He gave me the necessary confidence to show my quality after Pippo Inzaghi’s departure, brought the best out of me, made me become Capocannoniere and allowed me to learn what it really means to be part of Juventus.”

It wasn’t just success in the Bianconeri colours, as Trezeguet was also part of the side that lost the Champions League Final to Milan.

“We knew that we were stronger than the Rossoneri and proved that in Serie A, so that only increased our desire to win. I was still young, so after losing on penalties I was convinced I’d get back to playing in a Champions League Final. Unfortunately that never happened, so it remains the biggest regret of my career.

“Juve lost the Final again last season, so evidently this trophy keeps eluding Juve, but I am sure sooner or later it’ll come. The Bianconeri are back to being protagonists on a national and international level.

“I’m really happy and proud that Claudio Marchisio has become the captain of Juventus. He is so tied to the club, his teammates and his fans. What I like about him is that over time he never lost sight of the important values to transmit to youngsters.”

Trezeguet is looking forward to Euro 2016 and believes France have a chance of success, especially with Pogba in midfield.

“He is an extraordinary talent and has time on his side. He earned this responsibility with performances in a Juventus jersey, proving himself an important figure for Juve, Italian football and the French national team.

“Max Allegri did a super job with him, pushing him on to improve and grow. I hope he’ll stay at Juventus for many years, because he knows full well that in the right environment for his growth, he can make history with Juventus.

“Antonio Conte is doing an extraordinary job with the Italy side and you can see his influence. He knows Italy must get back to being protagonists and his team is much more aggressive, so I’m sure they’ll have a say in the Euros.”