Juventus should swap Dybala for Kane, not Pogba – Capello

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
• 3 min read

Former Juventus boss Fabio Capello believes the club would be wrong to attempt to swap Paulo Dybala for Man Utd’s Paul Pogba, but suggested they should look into a similar deal involving Harry Kane.

A few weeks ago, Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola risked the ire of the Old Trafford faithful by bluntly saying that his client’s time at Man Utd was over, before later backtracking and saying a summer move away would be more likely.

Should he eventually leave, the most likely scenario at the moment would be a return to Juventus, where he enjoyed the best playing days of his career so far.

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At Juventus at the moment, Dybala is suffering from an indifferent campaign and has been in and out of the side under new head coach Andrea Pirlo.

In the 2020/21 Serie A campaign he has started just five games, scoring one goal, with coronavirus isolation and injuries impacting his season.

Kane, meanwhile, has developed into one of the most devastating forwards in the world and has added a new dimension to his game this season, leading the charts for the most assists recorded in Europe’s top five leagues so far.

If Juventus were to entertain the idea of letting Dybala leave on a swap deal, Capello thinks it should be for Kane.

“I wouldn’t swap Dybala to get Pogba. If I could, I’d trade him with Tottenham’s English striker Harry Kane,” the former Bianconeri boss told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Looking more closely at Dybala’s current struggles, Capello believes having coronavirus has definitely had an impact on the Argentine’s performances this campaign for Juventus.

“Covid is the explanation, especially for a player like Dybala, who needs to dribble a man,” Capello added.

“The impression is that he’s a bit unfinished. He captivates but leaves doubts. He certainly has superior qualities; he really has all you need.

“He needs the physical conditions to return to his best. Paulo needs to be 100 per cent well. Dybala can do everything on the pitch if he is well, even playing in a trident with [Alvaro] Morata and [Cristiano] Ronaldo.”

One factor which is playing a part in Dybala’s future at Juve is his contract situation as he is yet to put pen to paper on an extended deal to remain at the Allianz Stadium.