The details of Juventus’ plan to sign Paul Pogba
Juventus brought in €105m when they sold Paul Pogba to Manchester United in 2016 and now the Italian club are looking to bring the midfielder back to Turin without paying the Red Devils a cent. Pogba’s contract expires in the summer and he doesn’t appear likely to renew at Old Trafford, meaning Juve could swoop in and take him on a free transfer.
However, there is no such thing as a fully free transfer in football, especially not when the player in question’s agent is Mino Raiola. Pogba is expected to demand wages of €12m plus bonuses, while there will also be a significant signing fee if and when he returns to Turin.
According to SportItalia journalist Rudy Galetti, Juve already have a plan in place in order to afford this pricey ‘free’ transfer.
🚨📲 #Pogba will leave #ManUTD: no renewal expected with #MUFC. #Juventus are the plan A: ⚪⚫ have to sell #Ramsey and one between #McKennie/#Rabiot to offer €12M+bonus to 🇫🇷 midfielder. #RealMadrid are the back-up solution, #PSG are not an option.🐓⚽ #Calciomercato #Transfers
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) October 30, 2021
Step one: Move on Aaron Ramsey
The first part of Juventus’ plan to sign Pogba is to sell Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman hasn’t had much of an impact in Serie A, for a variety of reasons, but he still has a few years left at the top level as he is still only 30. With a contract until 2023, Juventus will be able to bring in some sort of fee for the midfielder at the same time as clearing his wages off the books.
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Step two: Sell one of Weston McKennie or Adrien Rabiot
Adrien Rabiot is another player who Juventus brought in as a free agent back in 2019 and who has a contract through to 2023. He has played some significant minutes for Massimiliano Allegri this season, so could be kept on. However, Juve would consider selling Rabiot too if the right offer comes in.
If they don’t sell Rabiot then, according to Galetti, this means the likely departure of Weston McKennie. Aged just 23 and with a contract that doesn’t expire until 2025, the American would be able to fetch a much more sizable transfer fee than his older midfield colleagues and that would make a Pogba Bosman deal more than affordable.
There could, then, be a significant shake-up of Juventus’ midfield next summer. Not only could Pogba arrive, but other midfielders would be on their way out the door to clear space for the Frenchman’s wages and to make room for him in the side.
