Pogba to choose Juventus despite late PSG attempt

James Shearman

• Updated: 22 May 2022 07:47 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is subject to interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.

Pogba's contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season, meaning he is able to speak to other clubs ahead of a free transfer move.

The Frenchman is particularly keen on a return to Juve, where he won four Serie A titles, with a £10 million-a-season contract offer on the table.

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However, according to the Daily Mail, PSG are expected to make a final offer to Pogba, in hopes of convincing the 29-year-old to join Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at the Ligue 1 club.

A homecoming for the 2018 World Cup winner would be welcomed by the French public, but it does appear that his heart is set on going back to Turin.

Indeed, Pogba's representative, Rafaela Pimenta, reportedly met with the Juventus hierarchy earlier this week.

How Juventus will line up with Pogba

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.

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.