How Juventus will line up with Pogba

Carlo Garganese

11 May 2022 19:00 BST
3 min read

Paul Pogba is set to leave Manchester United when his contract expires at the end of the current season.

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The France World Cup winner has endured a difficult six-year spell at Old Trafford since returning to the club from Juventus in a then-world record transfer.

The 29-year-old has never lived up to his reputation and he will depart on a free transfer next month.

The three main clubs battling it out for his signature are Juventus, PSG and Real Madrid.

Juventus, where he enjoyed a fantastic four-year spell between 2012 and 2016, are considered the favourites to bring him back.

So if Pogba does return to Turin, how will Juve line up?

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In goal, Wojciech Szczęsny will continue as the club’s number one, ably backed up by reserve goalkeeper Mattia Perin.

In defence, Juventus are likely to sign both a right-back and left-back. Danilo should remain as right-back but there will almost certainly be a new first-choice left-back. For now we will go with young Italian Luca Pellegrini, with Alex Sandro available for sale.

In the centre of defence, Matthijs de Ligt partners Leonardo Bonucci. However, Juve will also sign a new centre-back as Giorgio Chiellini is set to either retire or move to the MLS.

Manager Max Allegri will most likely use a 4-3-3 next season. In the three-man central midfield, Manuel Locatelli and Denis Zakaria should be first-choice options, which will allow Pogba to play in his preferred left-mezzala (left centre midfield) role.

This is the position that Pogba has always stated is his favoured role on the pitch and where he excelled during his first spell at Juve.

However, Adrien Rabiot should also get a lot of game time and there is also the possibility that Allegri could use other systems.

In the three-man attack there will be no Paulo Dybala, with the Argentine being released on a free transfer after seven years in Turin.

Dusan Vlahovic will be the starting number nine flanked by two speedy wingers.

One of these, providing he returns to form after his ACL injury will be Federico Chiesa.

The other is partly dependent on Juve’s transfer market. Alvaro Morata’s two-year loan spell is up at the end of the month. If he stays at Juve, he could occupy the left-wing position.

Either way, Juventus will probably sign another wide forward, with Giacomo Raspadori the favourite. As we are only basing the rest of the team on players who will definitely be at Juventus next season, Juan Cuadrado will be deployed as winger also.