Paul Pogba open to Juventus return but Manchester United could resist, says Mino Raiola

  • 2/15/2020
  • 00:00
  • 12
  • 0
  • 0
news-picture

Paul Pogba is open to re-joining Juventus this summer after Euro 2020 but faces a fight to leave Manchester United, according to his agent Mino Raiola. United are braced for a third successive summer in which Pogba will seek a move away from Old Trafford, with the future of the France midfielder likely to have a significant influence on the club’s transfer plans. Pogba - who is currently sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery early last month - will effectively have two years left on his contract this summer as United have an option to extend the deal to June 2022. But Raiola has again reiterated his client’s desire to leave, with Real Madrid Pogba’s other main suitors. Asked by reporters after Juventus’s Coppa Italia tie against AC Milan on Thursday if Pogba returning to Turin was an option, Raiola said: “Italy is like home for Paul. He’d like to come back to Juventus but we’ll see what will happen after the Euros. “Pogba wants to play at the best level but he can’t escape by Man United if they’re in a difficult situation.” Juventus explored the option of re-signing Pogba last summer but were unwilling to offer more than the £89 million fee United paid to sign the Frenchman from the Italian club in 2016. Pogba had set his sights on a move to Madrid but Real’s offer of £27.6m plus Colombia forward James Rodriguez got nowhere near United’s £160m valuation. Twelve months earlier, Pogba had craved a move to Barcelona but United ruled out any prospect of selling him. United are unlikely to demand as much as £160m this summer but Raiola believes Pogba’s desired exit could be complicated if the club remain in a “difficult” situation. Currently eighth in the Premier League, six points adrift of Chelsea who they face at Stamford Bridge on Monday, United are at risk of missing out on Champions League qualification for a second successive season. Winning the Europa League would offer an alternative route back into the Champions League but Pogba wants to join a club where he can realistically challenge for the biggest trophies and would love the chance to play in Spain especially. Pogba has played just 71 minutes for United since the end of September, a brief, ill-fated comeback in December cut short by a fresh ankle injury that ended up requiring surgery. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to have Pogba back next month for the run-in, with the Euros with France an added incentive to find fitness and form, but the player’s future is likely to have a significant impact on his summer transfer budget. Solskjaer wants to bring in as many as five new players, even if there is an acceptance that will be very difficult, and the amount of money he has to spend would be influenced considerably if Pogba was to leave for a substantial fee. United’s £160m price tag last year was considered outlandish and the club may be forced to revise that figure. Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes joined United from Sporting Lisbon last month and Solskjaer wants to sign at least one more midfielder this summer, although he would need two if Pogba was to leave and with doubts over the future of Nemanja Matic.

مشاركة :