The first time in Juventus was in 2012, then the return to Manchester United for 105 million euros and now a second life, again in Turin and always on a free transfer. This is a real economic blow
He arrived from United for free, exactly ten years ago, in the summer of 2012; he returned to England for 105 million, at the time the highest amount ever paid for a footballer, after four triumphal seasons, full of league titles and trophies; now he has embraced Juve again, and again at no cost. If you look at it only from an economic point of view, the story of Pogba and his comings and goings between Manchester and Turin it’s unbelievable.
Think about it: the black and white club took him twice without paying a euro to the Red Devils, who on the contrary fainted to take it back. If English football in the last few decades has first caught up with us, then overtaken us, finally detached for wealth and power, this is a decidedly counter-trend case: the (partial) Italian revenge. Too crafty and crafty in Turin or a little naive – so to speak – in Manchester? Maybe. The fact is that yesterday Juve welcomed their champion with enthusiasm: welcome back home. An operation that seemed impossible only a few weeks ago, a matter of money, has instead taken place. A deal that has only one obscure point: but is Pogba still a champion?
When he first arrived in Turin, accompanied by Mino Raiola, Pogba was a talented big boy on the run from United because he was at odds with Sir Alex Ferguson. His fame was not reassuring. But where does he want to go, one who at nineteen quarrels with a legend? Who does he think he is? On the pitch Paul showed early who he really was: a phenomenal midfielder, technical and physical, beautiful in terms of touches and movements and yet also concrete. We had rarely seen someone so strong at that age: impossible not to fall in love with him. He seemed destined to mark an era of international football.
It didn’t go as planned. Manchester is not Turin; not for Pogba, at least. Environmental problems, misunderstandings with the coaches (including Mourinho), physical troubles, questionable choices of others on his tactical use: the Frenchman gave United far less than anyone could have imagined. And also compared to what it cost.
Lightning is rare, many dark periods, long absences; in six years only the national team gave him real joys, above all the World Cup in Russia. Skepticism, rumors, perplexities emerged around him: the champion has become a normal footballer. The pitch will tell us if Turin, for Pogba, is really special, so different from Manchester. Evaluating the strength with which the Frenchman wanted to return to us, even giving up much higher salaries, it is easy to believe that he sees Juve as his ideal world of him, the perfect landing place to return to being Pogba. The real one, the 105 million one. In the event that the rebirth of the Frenchman takes place, Allegri will have a decisive weapon to bring his team back to conquering trophies: Paul is the man who can change the balance in Italy, allowing the bianconeri to regain weight also in Europe. The qualities are indisputable, the trust around him is now great. After all, a champion cannot become a crook. And not even a normal player.
July 9, 2022 (change July 9, 2022 | 07:37)
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