Exclusive – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has made it clear to the club that he wants to write about Paul Pogba, who has entered the final year of his contract at Manchester United.
Pogba spent four successful years at Juventus earlier in his career after leaving Old Trafford for the first time, with the last two of them working under Allegri. The Frenchman was very much a resident of Turin, but a transfer of £ 89 million saw him return to Manchester to deal with unfinished business there.
Five years later and Pogba’s second enchantment at United has been a mixed bag. He has often been the club’s best player during that time, but the success he had hoped for has not yet come.
Man Utd have contacted Pogba about a new contract but not everyone at the club is on board / Michael Regan / Getty Images
The 28-year-old emphasized his status as one of the world’s best midfielders at Euro 2020, despite France’s early shock. He has been contacted by United officials to start new talks about a new contract and his agent, Mino Raiola, has cooperated with the club.
But 90min understands that the United hierarchy is divided on how to proceed. Some club officials want him to sign a new contract, aware that he could potentially leave as a free agent for the second time next summer. But a new deal is likely to make him the club’s highest paid player at £ 400,000 a week, and there are doubts whether he will be retained at that cost.
Pogba himself is fascinated by what the next 12 months will hold. His contract situation as it stands means that he can sign a pre-agreement with a new club before a free transfer next summer already in January, while there is also a limit to the price that United could now ask for him.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to Pogba staying, although some believe that Bruno Fernandes will arrive in 2020 and this summer’s conquest of Jadon Sancho is an early sign that the Norwegian is already planning for life without number six.
Real Madrid are still interested in Pogba, but the Spanish giants are also very interested in compatriot Kylian Mbappe – although there are still doubts about their financial muscle right now.
Recurring Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri is keen to work with Paul Pogba again / Valerio Pennicino / Getty Images
In Italy, Allegri, who returns to Juventus this summer, is keen to work with Pogba again and believes he could make the most of the 2018 World Cup winner. 90 minutes could reveal that Juve will offer Pogba the chance to reunite with them and has made its representatives aware of their interest.
Exactly how it could work can be complicated, but 90 min understands that intermediaries have proposed a swap agreement that makes Cristiano Ronaldo make a sensational return to United. None of the clubs have officially discussed this option, but those close to each player have not ruled it out either.
Juve are keen on Pogba but it remains to be seen if United would be interested in Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is one of the club’s fantastic players all the time and still a fan favorite, even 12 years after he left, but he turns 37 in February and can only be a short-term asset.
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