Juventus, PSG or Madrid? Ranking the contenders to sign Man Utd star Pogba
James Shearman
- Updated: 1 Jun 2022 17:27 BST
- 4 min read
Paul Pogba's contract at Manchester United will expire at the end of June and will mark the end of his six-year spell back at the club.
The France international first joined the Man Utd academy in 2009 before returning to the Old Trafford side following a four-year stint at Juventus.
His time in Italy saw him become one of the world's very best players and he featured in UEFA's Team of the Year in 2015, two years after winning the Golden Boy award.
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That form prompted Man Utd to re-sign him in 2016, with Pogba signing a five-year contract with the option of a further year included. That has been activated, but Pogba has never signed a new deal at the club.
The 29-year-old's time at Man Utd has been much criticised, with him not making the impact many had expected when he re-joined the side.
A lot of the criticism towards the France star has been due to the amount of money Man Utd have spent on him and the lack of success it's brought.
In fact, Pogba has won just two trophies in six seasons back at the club, compared to eight in four years at Juventus.
He has, however, knocked out 90 goal contributions in 233 appearances, which is a respectable tally.
Now, though, he will look to recapture his best form elsewhere, with Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid linked.
3. Real Madrid
Becoming a ‘Galactico’ seems like the ultimate dream for many players in Pogba’s talent range and, as the final years of his career loom, he’s running out of time to make that a reality.
Madrid are currently focused on shifting high-earning dead weight like Luka Jovic, Gareth Bale and Isco and replacing them with ‘cheap’ offerings to rebuild the side.
With Pogba letting his contract run down, all Madrid will have to pay is a huge wage packet and extortionate agent fees, which will fit their definition of cheap nicely.
However, Los Blancos are currently in pole position to sign fellow French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, meaning a move for Pogba is unlikely.
2. PSG
Paris Saint Germain are Pogba’s hometown club. He was raised in the Parisian banlieues, and played for a number of the city’s smaller youth clubs before landing at Man Utd as a teenager.
Now, Paris’ leading side have the funds to tempt him into a homecoming - with outlets reporting the club are putting together a bumper package to draw him back to the city.
I feel privileged to have played for this club. Many beautiful moments and memories but most importantly an unconditional support from the fans. Thank you @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/YLT3lUHOmT
— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) June 1, 2022
Another advantage is Pogba’s friendship with Kylian Mbappe, who recently signed a contract extension at Le Parc des Princes.
A move to PSG could see France's two most naturally gifted players line up together, alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar.
1. Juventus
Juventus are currently understood to be the favourites to re-sign Pogba, and also the midfielder's preferred destination.
Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016 to set old records straight - he could do the same by rejoining Juventus.
The Frenchman made his name in the black-and-white stripes of Turin, and feels he has unfinished business in the city. Although the club steamrolled Serie A while he was there, he didn’t grow into the full extent of his powers until his final season in Italy - and by the end of that year, he was gone.
He also experienced his only Champions League final to date with the Italian side, starting in a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona. That a player as good as Pogba has never come closer to winning the competition will sting.
