Juventus director in sexist rant over Pogba and other 'flop signings'

Stuart Telford

• 16 Oct 2023 21:22 BST
• 3 min read

Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli has taken aim at Paul Pogba and other disappointing signings in Turin, but in the clumsiest manner…

Giuntoli was speaking at the Trento Festival, where he spoke on a wide range of topics, from Max Allegri's future to restoring Juventus to the top of Italian, and indeed European, football.

But his attention soon turned to Pogba and other 'flop' signings. Pogba returned to Juventus from Manchester United this summer but was soon injured and now faces a four-year ban after testing positive for testosterone.

READ: What now for Paul Pogba? Latest on Juventus star amid doping suspension

Pogba previously won four consecutive Serie A titles with Juve before re-joining Man Utd in a €105 million transfer in 2016, but his second stint in Turin has been a disaster so far.

"We try to make as few mistakes as possible, but then we make a lot of mistakes," Giuntoli said. "You take a footballer thinking she's the right 'girlfriend', then you put her at home and realise that she doesn't do the cooking, doesn't wash, doesn't iron...

Giuntoli: 'mistakes made'

"There are many dynamics to pay attention to, understand the parameters for comparison, understand the role that we have, decide the players [to sign]. There are many mistakes made, then from there positive things are done and I'm grateful to them too."

READ: Paul Pogba's minuscule salary at Juventus revealed amid doping suspension

Should Pogba get off the hook for the latest indiscretion, it is possible Juve would look to cash in on the Frenchman anyway.

The 2018 World Cup winner was previously one of the best-paid players at the club on €10.48m gross per year, but he is now only receiving the mandatory minimum of €2,000 a month.

That outgoing would shoot back up should Pogba be cleared of any wrongdoing, and Juve could scarcely afford the hike without a commensurate return on their investment.

Pogba is still valued at €15.8m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm having enjoyed an ETV high of €63.6m prior to his second move to Manchester.