10 - Paul Pogba

[Socrates 8056]

Pogba breaks transfer record?

 

http://www.football-italia.net/87646/pogba-breaks-transfer-record

Jul 20, 2016

 

Paul Pogba will reportedly break the world transfer record if he moves from Juventus to Manchester United.

 

The English side have been pursuing the French midfielder all summer, and reportedly made a first offer of €101m, which the Bianconeri rejected.

 

However, with today’s sports newspapers reporting that Pogba has informed the club that he wants to leave, the transfer is now a possibility.

 

Today’s La Stampa, which is owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the car company controlled by the Agnelli family, says a deal between the two clubs is close, and will be a world record fee.

 

The newspaper believes an agreement is likely to be found for €120m [£101m], not inclusive of agent Mino Raiola’s fee.

 

That would see Pogba’s fee exceed that of current record-holder Gareth Bale, who cost Real Madrid €100.8m when he moved from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.

[Socrates 8056]

Report: Manchester United make offer for Paul Pogba, Juventus thoroughly reject it

 

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/7/20/12234546/paul-pogba-

juventus-manchester-united-2016-epl-serie-a-transfer-rumors

Jul 20, 2016

 

Sorry, folks. Living in a world where Paul Pogba transfer rumors are sucking the life out of everybody's daily whereabouts and shenanigans. They are ever-present as ever-present gets. They just seemed to be kicked more and more into overdrive as the weeks go by this summer.

We've reached the point in the process — what that process is, exactly, I don't really know — where Manchester United, the only team still relatively on the trail to sign Pogba, has reportedly submitted a bid for the French midfielder who is likely to fetch a cool €100 million at the very least. And, as is pretty much to be expected, Juventus has kicked that offer to the curb and rejected what many are considering the first bid by United in its attempt to acquire Pogba this summer.

Here is a little bit more on the matter from the folks doing the reporting on it:

Juventus have rejected Manchester United's first offer for Paul Pogba worth a total of £100m with £13m of that in performance-related add-ons. The Serie A club want United to pay £100m with a further £8m in add-ons, which would make the Frenchman the most expensive player ever.

Manchester United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward met the Juventus directors Giuseppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici as well as the player's agent, Mino Raiola, on Tuesday to discuss a possible transfer but was told that the opening bid fell short of what Juventus wanted for the player.

(Source: The Guardian)

Is it surprising that United have reportedly tabled a bid for Pogba? No.

Is it surprising that Juventus have reported thwarted any attempt by United to sign Pogba? No.

For as much as many of the folks in the press want to make it seem like it's a certainty that Pogba is leaving Turin this summer, it's not like Pogba has publicly given any kind of indication he wants to go to another club. (I'll believe the player himself rather than the Gazzetta dello Sport, thank you very much.) Juventus has never given any kind of indication they want to sell. And I guess this is the latest confirmation of Max Allegri's words just a couple of days earlier regarding the fact that Juventus aren't in any kind of mood to be a selling club.

The contract that Pogba is supposedly being offered is just as insane — if not more — than the €120 million or so worth of transfer fee money. But hey, if this all results in Pogba getting a nice big raise and sticking with Juventus for a little while longer, then that's fine, too. I mean, it's not like those in the Juventus camp been keeping their Champions League ambitions a secret over the last couple of weeks, right?

[Socrates 8056]

Juventus stand firm on Pogba after Manchester United offer €120 million

The Italian giants have named their price for the France international ahead of a meeting

with the Red Devils that could decide the midfielder's future.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2016/07/20/25777912/-?

Jul 20, 2016

 

Juventus will demand a transfer fee of no less than €120 million for Paul Pogba when they meet with Manchester United delegates on Wednesday, Goal has learned.

United are set to make their move on the France international after weeks of intense speculation, with a meeting lined up on Wednesday at which they are likely to offer a world-record fee.

Having weighed up his options Pogba is happy to leave Juventus in favour of a return to United, whom he left in 2012 due to a lack of first-team opportunities.

Pogba is said to be ready to accept a €13m annual salary at Old Trafford, dwarfing his current wage at the Juventus Stadium.

But while United are ready to step up their interest, Juve are set to insist on a fee of €120m before they agree to release their star midfielder.

Such a payout would smash the world record €100m fee paid by Real Madrid to Tottenham for Gareth Bale in 2013.

Some reports had claimed on Tuesday that Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, had been in Manchester to finalise personal terms on a deal.

However, Raiola later told Goal: "All of what you read is bulls**t."

But a €120m offer from United should see the wheels set in motion for Pogba to return to Old Trafford four years on from his bitter departure.

[Socrates 8056]

Report: Pogba costs €125m

 

http://www.football-italia.net/87650/report-pogba-costs-€125m

Jul 20, 2016

 

Paul Pogba reportedly wants Manchester United, but his price-tag has risen to €125m.

 

The Juventus midfielder has been pursued by the English club for some time, but the Bianconeri were set against a sale.

 

However, it’s now widely reported that Pogba has informed the Old Lady that he wants to be allowed to leave, with today’s Gazzetta dello Sport repeating that line.

 

The newspaper claims a return to Old Trafford would net the French international €12m net per season plus bonuses for a five-year contract.

 

That would be a massive hike on his wage in Turin, where he earns €4.5m per season, rising to €6m in bonuses and increasing year-on-year.

 

However, if Juve do let Pogba go it won’t be on the cheap and Gazzetta claims that Man United must offer €125m [£105m].

 

That would see €100m go to the Bianconeri, while the rest would go to Pogba and his agent as per a gentleman’s agreement over 20 per cent of any transfer fee.

[Socrates 8056]

How Manchester United could line up with Pogba

The Red Devils look set to smash the world transfer record to bring in Paul Pogba from

Juventus for €110m, but how might Jose Mourinho utilise him at Old Trafford?

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2016/07/20/

25779382/how-manchester-united-could-line-up-with-pogba

Jul 20, 2016

 

Manchester United clearly mean business. With more than three weeks still to go before the 2016-17 Premier League season kicks off they have added Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly to their first-team squad, and now are set to make Paul Pogba the most expensive footballer in history.

It all points to new boss Jose Mourinho having a far greater stock of players to choose from come the beginning of the campaign, and Pogba's imminent signing gives the Portuguese a number of options when it comes to picking his team on a week-to-week basis this term.

Pogba has shown in his time at Juventus that with the right support around him in midfield he can play in a series of manners. While his box-to-box ability and quality in the final third stand out, he has much more to his game than just that.

So how might Mourinho employ Pogba in his United side? Goal takes a look at a few of the possibilities...

 

4-2-3-1

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Mourinho is most familiar with a 4-2-3-1 shape, and used the formation in his opening game as United manager against Wigan on Saturday. With Michael Carrick providing the more restrained axis in midfield, Pogba could be asked to play centrally as the more attacking option of the two. That would allow Mourinho to use both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney in the attacking line behind one of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford, with Anthony Martial able to interchange between left and right.

 

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4-3-1-2

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A change to a two-man front line could see United offer more threat around the box, especially if Mkhitarayan is the man supplying the ammunition. Alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick, Pogba may well find he has greater licence to join attacks when necessary thanks to the pair's instincts being less adventurous than the France international.

 

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4-3-2-1

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A slight change of shape could give Pogba more freedom, with the extra midfielder (Wayne Rooney in this example) tucking in to provide extra cover when the Frenchman gets forward. Any inclination that Mourinho would use the system may give hope to the likes of Ander Herrera, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Marouane Fellaini, who could otherwise see their game-time squeezed.

 

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4-1-4-1

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Another option would be to go with a slightly more condensed version of the 4-3-2-1, allowing greater interchanging between the two midfield lines. That would possibly restrict Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial a little but would at least free up Pogba and Rooney some more.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

L'Equipe: Juve accept €120m Pogba bid

http://www.football-italia.net/87688/lequipe-juve-accept-€120m-pogba-bid

 

Jul 20, 2016

 

L’Equipe claim Juventus accepted a €120m (£100m) offer from Manchester United for Paul Pogba today.

 

It was widely reported in Italy that Juve had rejected an initial €100m proposal, presented in a meeting last night between Bianconeri director general Beppe Marotta, agent Mino Raiola and Manchester United chief Ed Woodward.

 

According to French site L’Equipe, this evening all the various parties agreed terms for €120m.

 

It becomes the most expensive transfer of all time, but also the most profitable, because Juve picked Pogba up as a free agent only four years ago.

 

He arrived from Manchester United after refusing to sign a new contract with them.

 

In Italian football, the so-called plusvalenze dictate the financial health of the club, so making such a massive profit on a single player in a four-year window will bolster their coffers for years to come.

 

It's remarkable to think that the cost of building the Juventus Stadium was €155m.

 

While Juventus will receive €120m, Manchester United are going to have to pay considerably more than that.

 

Pogba agreed a five-year contract for a reported €15m per season, plus image rights for a total €20m per year.

 

Above all, agent Raiola will get a massive commission as part of the transfer, said to be above €20m.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Sky: Pogba to Man Utd not done yet

http://www.football-italia.net/87697/sky-pogba-man-utd-not-done-yet

 

Jul 20, 2016

 

While L’Equipe claim Juventus accepted Manchester United’s €120m offer for Paul Pogba, Sky Sport Italia say it’s not done yet.

 

The negotiations have begun, but all agree an initial €100m proposal was rejected on Tuesday evening.

 

French paper L’Equipe suggested this evening that a deal was done for €120m, but the reports in Italy are very different.

 

Sky Sport Italia insist the proposal so far is only at €110m and that will not be enough.

 

Juventus want at least €120m plus bonuses, including a figure if and when Pogba renews his contract at Old Trafford.

 

Above all, there is the thorny issue of agent Mino Raiola’s commission.

 

The representative is set to receive a huge figure, in the region of €20m, and Juventus do not intend to pay it.

 

Manchester United want to include this in the transfer fee, but the Bianconeri won’t stand for that.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Real Madrid back in for Pogba!

http://www.football-italia.net/87699/real-madrid-back-pogba

 

Jul 20, 2016

 

In a sensational twist, multiple Italian sources claim Real Madrid are in a bidding war with Manchester United for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

 

While L’Equipe had suggested a deal was done this evening for €120m, Italian reports claim the United offer is no higher than €110m and does not include agent Mino Raiola’s commission, which by itself is circa €20m.

 

In fact, Sportitalia calculate it could end up being as much as €32m, including 15 per cent of the fee, a commission and a cut of his wages.

 

Tonight Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset Premium announced that Real Madrid had dived back into the race for Pogba.

 

The Merengues rang up Juventus to promise they'd match any offer Manchester United made.

 

The Spaniards would have the upper hand in terms of Champions League football, prestige and the presence of Zinedine Zidane.

 

However, Sky also suggest Pogba already gave his word to Jose Mourinho and Manchester United.

 

That won’t stop Juventus sparking a bidding war, as if they are to lose the midfielder, they intend to milk every last penny out of his sale.

 

In a remarkable statistic, it cost Juventus €155m to build their new stadium and, including wages saved, Pogba’s sale could come out at the same figure.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Braida: 'Barcelona did want Pogba'

http://www.football-italia.net/87701/braida-barcelona-did-want-pogba

 

Jul 20, 2016

 

Barcelona “were interested in Paul Pogba, but once the figures reached a certain point, it became difficult,” said Ariedo Braida.

 

The Blaugrana director of sport, who was at Milan for decades, spoke to Canale 21 about the €120m bidding war for Juventus star Pogba.

 

This evening it was reported in Italy that Real Madrid had dived back in by matching Manchester United’s proposal.

 

“Clearly when you talk about figures that go over €100m, you need to reflect on them,” Braida told the Italian station.

 

“It all comes down to the TV rights that brought in a lot of money and completely changed the logic of the transfer market. Clearly all players are over-rated to some degree or another at this stage.

 

“We know Pogba, he is a player who proved to be very strong and for a while Barcelona were interested, but clearly the dynamics changed and once the figures reached a certain point, we were no longer interested.

 

“It’s hard to keep up at some stage, because you don’t only have to consider the price of the transfer fee, but also the player’s salary. Over the course of five years, that can amount to dozens of millions. “

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Paul Pogba has been sold to Manchester United, unless he hasn't been

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/7/20/12242040/paul-pogba-

juventus-manchester-united-2016-epl-serie-a-transfer-rumors

 

Jul 20, 2016

 

Eat. Sleep. Wake up to Paul Pogba transfer rumors.

It's everyday life at this point. Like it or not, until Pogba eventually leaves Juventus — in two days, two weeks, two transfer windows, two years — this is the state of operations we currently live in because he will be a player who likely demands a price we've never seen somebody pay before. More than €100 million, folks. Much, much more.

That was ever so the case as nighttime hit in Europe on Wednesday night as L'EQUIPE reported that Juventus accepted Manchester United's €120 million bid for Pogba, who's currently off enjoying his post-Euro 2016 holiday and apparently playing basketball against Romelu Lukaku. It, predictably, brought down the absolute house in terms of transfer rumor freakout. Don't believe me? Go back and look at Twitter from a couple of hours ago. If it doesn't resemble a dumpster fire of emotions, then I don't know how else to describe it.

And then we have the Italian side of the equation..

 

 

 Follow

Fabrizio Romano 

 

✔@FabrizioRomano

Man United new bid to Juventus is 110M€. Juve has not accepted yet and asked Man United to pay all the fee for Raiola. Let's see (@DiMarzio)

11:03 PM - 20 Jul 2016

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 Follow

Romeo Agresti @romeoagresti

#MUFC raised the offer to €110m for Paul #Pogba, who is preparing to leave #Juventus. @goal

10:26 PM - 20 Jul 2016

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Both Italian sources, both saying there has been an uptick in terms of a bid being made. Nothing about Juventus accepting said offer from Manchester United. Nothing at all.

Which one is the more believable?

Considering that L'EQUIPE is notorious for not being all too accurate with its transfer rumors and that word out of Italy is basically saying the deal is still in the works, I'll side with those reports out of Italy more than those of France. Sure, the "(Pogba) is preparing to leave Juventus" part is nothing that really makes you optimistic about the whole situation, but it's also part of a piece of information that says a deal has not been reached just yet.

Because there is so much conflicting information out there right now — Real Madrid has reportedly re-entered the fray causing even more freakout about a potential bidding war — it sure would be nice for Beppe Marotta to come out and squash what is going on for what will seem like the 200th time this summer. And it's not like with this talk swirling about regarding Pogba leaving there's one reputable source putting its foot in the ground and saying that he's going to stay in Turin for the next (insert somewhat logical number here) amount of years.

This is what some folks will call a "fluid situation." The only problem is, when it comes to Pogba, there's so much being thrown out there by some — not all — sources that are not very reputable at best, the sutiation can become even that much more jumbled and murky.

At this point, all we know is that Manchester United want to sign Pogba, Juventus want A LOT of money for Pogba and that there may or may not be a last-ditch attempt by Real Madrid to get back in the game.

You got that? Okay, good.

Maybe Paul Pogba is staying. Maybe Paul Pogba is leaving. I really have no idea anymore. I'm just so confused. The only thing that seems certain is that these constant transfer rumors are about to make my head explode. And I'm sure that's surprising considering we've been dealing with stuff like this for months and months and months now.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Marotta: 'No Man Utd talks for Pogba'

http://www.football-italia.net/87702/marotta-no-man-utd-talks-pogba

 

Jul 20, 2016

 

Juventus director general Beppe Marotta reiterated “there is no contact with Manchester United for Paul Pogba.”

 

The last 24 hours have seen multiple reports all over Europe suggest a meeting was held between Marotta, Manchester United chief Ed Woodward and agent Mino Raiola on Tuesday.

 

L’Equipe even claimed today a deal was done for €120m, but Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset Premium note Real Madrid have dived back into the bidding war.

 

“There is no contact with Manchester United for Pogba,” Juventus director general Marotta told Sportitalia on Wednesday night.

 

“The situation is no different to when I last spoke to you on Friday.”

[Socrates 8056]

Confirmed? Has Pogba's barber revealed Man Utd move?

The Juventus midfielder has been heavily linked with a return to Old Trafford,

having originally left in 2012, and it appears as though the cat may be out of the bag...

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/4160/extra-time/2016/07/21/25808602/-?

Jul 21, 2016

 

Has Paul Pogba's barber just confirmed the Juventus midfielder's move to Manchester United?

Pogba has been heavily linked with a world-record move to Old Trafford, with reports suggesting that a deal to sign their former player could cost United an eye-watering €120 million.

And the rumour mill has now been sent into overdrive after Pogba's barber posted an Instagram image of him going to work on the France international's hair, with the caption "had to change up Pogba's hair colour for his new team. #ManchesterUnited."

What do you think? Is the cat out of the bag? Take a look at the picture below!

 

 Follow

Busby Bulletin @BusbyBulletin

Paul Pogba's barbers deleted his Instagram post possibly revealing Pogba's transfer to United. #MUFC

6:56 AM - 21 Jul 2016

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[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Mourinho: 'Pogba? Won't confirm or deny'

http://www.football-italia.net/87719/mourinho-pogba-wont-confirm-or-deny

 

Jul 21, 2016

 

Manchester United's Jose Mourinho refuses to answer questions on signing Paul Pogba from Juventus: 'I won't confirm or deny it'.

 

The Red Devils are believed to be in a bidding war against Real Madrid to take the French star away from the Old Lady.

 

“I don't confirm and I dont deny it,” Coach Mourinho said. “I cannot tell. First of all because I don’t think it's correct to speak about players from other clubs. He’s a Juventus player, not a Manchester United player.

 

“The only thing I can say is that my board, my directors, did a fantastic job to do 75 per cent of what I asked them to do.

 

“I asked them for the profiles of four players, I gave them a few options and they did for me 75 per cent of the job and we just have 25 per cent to do before August 31.

 

“So we are in a great positon to complete what I consider will be a great market for us.”

[Socrates 8056]

Wrong time, wrong project, wrong team - Pogba has

made a mistake rejoining Manchester United

The Frenchman's agent always said if his client left Juventus it would be for a "top club" -

so why has he joined a side that can't even offer Champions League football?

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2016/07/21/25814072/-?

Jul 21, 2016

 

Mino Raiola is well suited to his profession. The so-called 'super-agent' is a shrewd reader of the transfer market and has a flair for hyperbole. In January of last year, he boldly proclaimed of Paul Pogba, "He will break Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer record because there can be only one Mona Lisa."

Whether you agree with the latter clause, the former is now set to become fact: Paul Pogba will become the most expensive footballer of all time, with Manchester United agreeing to pay Juventus €110 million to take him back to Old Trafford.

It was always accepted that Pogba would eventually part company with the Bianconeri. Raiola has never made any secret of that. "We've always said we'll be able to leave when we feel the time is right, with the right project, the right team and all of the parties are in agreement," he stated in November 2015. So why, in July 2016, is his most prized possession now joining United?

While a historic accord was reached between United and Juventus that suits two parties (at least financially), looking at this deal from Pogba's perspective, this is the wrong time, the wrong project and the wrong team.

Firstly, there is the timing. Pogba is leaving Juventus just when they appear to have their best chance of winning the Champions League. As Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri stated four days ago, "Anyone who has the opportunity to leave Juventus has to consider things very carefully because right now Juve are among the top four European clubs."

Yet Pogba is moving to a side that weren't even among the top four in England last season. The France international wants to win the Champions League - that dream is now at least another two years away.

Admittedly, Pogba is just 23 and he will have convinced himself that he is buying into a long-term project aimed at restoring United to their former pre-eminence among England's elite. However, the once-proud protectors of 'The Manchester United Way' have entrusted that responsibility to Jose Mourinho, a manager who has never spent more than three seasons at one club.

Of course, Mourinho has sanctioned some typically high-profile signings, chief among them Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However, the former is a modern great but is now 34 and has only signed on for one season. Meanwhile, there is a question mark over Mkhitaryan's ability to adjust to the Premier League. The Armenian is an attacking midfielder of rare quality but the last Borussia Dortmund playmaker to pitch up at Old Trafford certainly didn't fare so well...

Mourinho has some wonderful young talent to work, including Marcus Rashford, but then, the Portuguese has never been a coach under whom talented teenagers have flourished.

The point is not to cast Mourinho in a negative light but to merely point out that after losing dressing rooms in his last two managerial positions, at Chelsea and Real Madrid, there is sufficient uncertainty surrounding his suitability to the United job to make one wonder why Pogba has left a stable, successful side in Turin for a team in transition.

Then again, the sentimentality of the situation cannot be underestimated. Pogba may well feel that he has unfinished business at Old Trafford. He bears no ill will towards Sir Alex Ferguson but remains bitterly upset by the fact that he was never given a proper chance to shine under the former United boss. "I was in love with Manchester and I was a Mancunian," he toldFourFourTwo last year.

However, it still seems strange for a player driven by winning titles and being the best player he can be to have decided that now is the time to return. He could have either pushed for a move to reigning European champions Madrid or spent another season in Turin, where he would have been guaranteed another shot at the Champions League while he closely monitored how Mourinho was faring in Manchester.

Instead, Pogba has taken a huge gamble with his career - one that is only certain to pay off financially.

“If Paul leaves Juventus, it will be for the absolute top,” Raiola insisted last year. However, even the most die-hard United fan would grudgingly admit that United are no longer at the pinnacle of European football.

Pogba may well be a work of art - but he is now a part of what is very much a work in progress.

 

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Agent denies Pogba deal

http://www.football-italia.net/87722/agent-denies-pogba-deal

 

Jul 21, 2016

 

Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola denied that either Real Madrid or Manchester United have a deal for Juventus' Paul Pogba.

 

The race between the Red Devils and the Merengues to secure the French superstar is drawing a great deal of attention, with parts of the media in both countries certain that the player will leave.

 

On from Coach Jose Mourinho's refusal to take a side, Pogba's agent Raiola also felt the need to clarify matters with a statement.

 

“There is no deal done regarding Paul Pogba, lots of bla bla bla,” reads his Twitter profile, with no direct reference to any team in particular.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Report: United fly in for Pogba

http://www.football-italia.net/87736/report-united-fly-pogba

 

Jul 21, 2016

 

Reports in the UK suggest Manchester United have sent representatives to Italy to meet Juventus for Paul Pogba.

 

The English side are believed to be close to securing a world-record transfer for the French midfielder, but Juve rejected their first bid of €100m.

 

While the Red Devils are thought to have raised their offer to €110m, it’s believed the Bianconeri are insisting on €120m plus bonuses.

 

In addition, the Italian champions want United to pay agent Mino Raiola’s commission, while United want it included in the transfer fee.

 

Now ESPN UK is reporting that representatives from Man United have flown to Italy in order to push the deal through.

 

They were expected to submit an improved offer for the 23-year-old, as they’re keen to get the deal done as soon as possible.

 

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Manchester United target Paul Pogba's

price tag is no surprise - Dimitri Payet

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2916106/manchester-united-

target-paul-pogbas-price-tag-is-no-surprise-dimitri-payet

 

Jul 22, 2016

 

Dimitri Payet thinks that his France teammate Paul Pogba will be a major asset to whichever team he plays for regardless of how much he costs to buy.

Pogba, 23, has been tipped to make a €120 million switch from Juventus to his former club Manchester United.

Payet played alongside Pogba during France's run to the Euro 2016 final and the West Ham playmaker feels it is only natural that the midfielder would be attracting such interest.

"All I know is that Pogba is an exceptional player," Payet told RTL. "Exceptional players attract this kind of club so everything is possible.

"The problem today is that good players are expensive. Unfortunately that's the way the market is. We, the players, can do nothing about it."

When it was put to him that the €120m valuation had more to do with potential rather than current ability, Payet insisted that Pogba would prove his worth over time.

"I can't tell you if Pogba is worth that price today but all I know is that he's an exceptional player," Payet said.

"So regardless of the club that would buy Pogba and regardless of the price, it will certainly be an exceptional recruit for this team. And I'm sure that Paul can help this club to grow and to win trophies."

Payet is currently on holidays in the French overseas department of Reunion, the island in the Indian Ocean where he grew up. He will return to training with West Ham at the start of August.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Raiola: ‘I want the best for Pogba’

http://www.football-italia.net/87749/raiola-‘i-want-best-pogba’

 

Jul 22, 2016

 

Mino Raiola insists “I want the best” for Paul Pogba, and doesn’t “give a damn” if he goes to Manchester United for a world record fee.

 

The super-agent is believed to be flying out to Miami to meet with the Juventus midfielder, who is close to re-joining the Red Devils for a fee of €120m or more.

 

“I don’t give a damn about record transfer fees,” Raiola shrugged, speaking to Corriere dello Sport.

 



“The newspapers write that Pogba could set the record, but I’ve already set records with [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and [Pavel] Nedved.

 

“I want the best for my players, and therefore for Pogba too. I don’t answer to anyone, and I don’t speak about my business.

 

“Certain things I only discuss with my clients, and they know how things are.”

 

Raiola was then asked whether or not the Bianconeri are the only Italian side capable of competing in Europe.

 

“Juve win because they had the good-bad luck of going down to Serie B. They rebuilt their structure, got a stadium of their own and started to invest in the domestic and international market.

 

“There are four or five other Italian clubs who didn’t do that, they took the TV money and didn’t build anything. Now they reap what they sow…

 

“In football you have to make changes when you’re strong, otherwise it’s more difficult.”

[Socrates 8056]

Mourinho not concerned if Man Utd fail to sign Pogba

The Red Devils manager maintains that the club are not merely focusing on one deal this summer,

despite intense speculation linking them with Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2016/07/21/25814072/-?

Jul 22, 2016

 

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists that the club are not merely focusing on one player amid intense speculation regarding their bid for Paul Pogba.

Goal understands that Juventus have demanded €120 million for the France international, with the Italian champions eager to hold on to the former Red Devils youngster.

Mourinho has previously claimed that he is "confident" a deal can be wrapped up, but he has now claimed that the club have a number of targets, rather than focusing their energies on a sole deal.

"We set four targets for us, we got three of them and we are going to get the fourth," Mourinho told reporters, having brought in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly. 

"We established the profile of four players to improve the squad, to give us more options, especially adapted to my way of thinking about football.

"Everybody speaks about one, but it wouldn't be a surprise for me if it is not him and it is another one because we went for profile.

"We have two more options in front of us and we are going to close one."

On Pogba, the 53-year-old added: "I am not going to try to make you naive and believe that we are not trying for one player.

"You have smoke, you have fire - you used to say something like that, right? 

"First of all, we know the player belongs to another club, which is not a small club. It is also a big club, one with economic power to fight for their best players, to try and keep their best players.

"Apart from that, we know other clubs are also involved and for us it is not, 'are we going to win the race or lose the race?' It is not a race, it is just the market.

"When you go to the market, you have other options. You cannot focus on one, so we are in a very comfortable situation."

Mourinho and Co. are in China as they prepare for their International Champions Cup clash with Borussia Dortmund on Friday, before facing local rivals Manchester City on Monday.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Max Allegri on Paul Pogba: 'Right now, he's still a Juventus player'

 

Juventus manager spoke to the Australian media before his team's International

Champions Cup opener against Melbourne Victory on Saturday.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/7/22/12255260/juventus-

max-allegri-paul-pogba-2016-international-champions-cup-press-conference

 

Jul 22, 2016

 

For the first time in a couple of months, Max Allegri had a pre-match press conference on Friday evening in Australia. Of course, the match Juventus will play won't count on the official record with it being a friendly against Melbourne Victory. But the questions were real, the answers were real and the interest in what Allegri had to say was pretty much the same as every other time he speaks about his team and what they're up to.

It was only natural, considering the circumstances, that Juventus' third-year manager was asked about the status of one of his most important players, midfielder Paul Pogba. That's simply because there is no player being talked about more right now than Pogba, whose been the eye of Manchester United and Real Madrid for much of the summer.

What did Max have to say on the constant chatter that Pogba could very well be leaving Juventus this summer? This short and concise answer:

"Right now, Pogba is still a Juventus player. We don't know what will happen in the course of the next week, but we're confident."

(Side note: Allegri apparently had a laugh when he was asked about Pogba. At least he's finding a way to try and deal with all of the Pogba talk. What a guy he is.)

Of course, Pogba is THE player on the Juventus roster that people are paying attention to even though he's currently vacationing in Miami and playing basketball with the likes Romelu Lukaku. After a whirlwind Wednesday when it came to Pogba rumors, things were relatively quiet in the Italian press regarding the 23-year-old midfielder.

But don't you forget about the players that Juventus director general Beppe Marotta and sporting director Fabio Paratici have signed this summer in an attempt to strengthen the squad for a push to win a sixth straight Serie A title and a deep run in the Champions League.

"At the end of the transfer window we'll have a very strong team. Dani Alves, (Medhi) Benatia, (Miralem) Pjanic and (Marko) Pjaca have come in. When the window closes the team will be very strong."

On Saturday's International Champions Cup opener against Melbourne Victory:

"Tomorrow's match against Melbourne Victory will be very useful for us as far as fitness is concerned. Our other priority of course is to ensure that we don't pick up any injuries. Victory have won three titles and so we will need to approach the game in the correct manner. There will be opportunities for a lot of the boys to get some game time, even some of the younger lads."

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Real Madrid v Man Utd for Pogba

http://www.football-italia.net/88212/real-madrid-v-man-utd-pogba

 

Jul 23, 2016

 

While As claims Real Madrid are stepping up the pressure on Paul Pogba, La Gazzetta dello Sport has Manchester United talks progressing.

 

The 23-year-old midfielder is now at the centre of a bidding war and Juventus intend to squeeze every last Euro out of his sale.

 

Manchester United had seemed the only genuine contenders until the last few days, when Real Madrid dived in and pledged to match any offer.

 

As the Merengues have a transfer ban coming up next year due to irregularities when signing under-age players, they are eager to get big deals done now.

 

This morning’s edition of Spanish newspaper As, Zinedine Zidane is pushing the Real Madrid board hard to get Pogba.

 

In turn, the midfielder would relish the opportunity to work with one of his France heroes.

 

If he were to come to Madrid, it’s very likely the move would be funded by selling James Rodriguez.

 

They’d also offer Pogba at most €10m per year wages rather than Manchester United’s €13m, but would ensure Champions League football straight away.

 

The biggest issue for both contenders is the €20m commission for agent Mino Raiola, something Juventus have no intention of paying.

 

It means whoever does buy Pogba will have to shell out €120m plus €20m for Raiola.

 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus have made it abundantly clear to Manchester United that the price-tag is €120m, not including any bonuses or commissions.

 

So far, the offer on the table is at most €110m.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Paul Scholes: 'Paul Pogba not worth £86m'

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/transfer-talk/

news/paul-scholes-pogba-not-worth-gbp86m_277323.html

 

Jul 23, 2016

 

Paul Scholes has claimed that Paul Pogba 'is not worth' the £86m that Manchester United will reportedly have to pay Juventus in order to sign the Frenchman this summer.

Man United legend Scholes played and trained alongside Pogba when the young midfielder was close to making the breakthrough at Old Trafford, but he left for Juventus in 2012 after failing to agree a new contract with the 20-time English champions.

Scholes has claimed that the now 23-year-old left the Red Devils for the money and doubts whether the France international is worth the £86m that is currently being discussed.

"He was a very talented young player, I played with him and I knew how good he was. He played for the first team maybe once or twice, but from my understanding he was asking for too much money," Scholes told Sport Witness.

"For his age, he was asking for far too much money, that too for a player who hasn't played first team football. Okay, he has gone on to great things. I think certainly there has been a lot of improvement. He needed to improve if he is going to be a player worth £86m.

"I just don't think he is worth £86m. For that sort of money, you want someone who is going to score 50 goals a season like [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi. Pogba is nowhere worth that kind of money yet."

Real Madrid are reportedly still considering swooping for Pogba this summer, although it is thought that the Spanish side are currently being priced out of a move.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Pogba cost continues to rise

http://www.football-italia.net/88259/pogba-cost-continues-rise

 

Jul 24, 2016

 

Paul Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United or Real Madrid is now very likely, but Juventus and Mino Raiola are squeezing out every Euro.

 

Juve are already moving on from Pogba and have promised Napoli they’ll pay the full €94.7m release clause for Gonzalo Higuain, making that the second most expensive transfer in history.

 

That implies they’ll be spending the Pogba cash, but the Sunday World newspaper points out there are still some big problems when it comes to Manchester United.

 

Not only are Real Madrid trying to intervene with a last-ditch offer to match the fee, but there are numerous bonuses still being negotiated.

 

Juventus are adamant the €120m fee must not include the €20m commission owed to agent Raiola, so in fact this move would cost Manchester United at least €140m.

 

The image rights are also proving to be an issue, especially as they’ve been “the subject of legal conjecture over the last 12 months as he battled to win them back from a Luxembourg-based company,” writes the Sunday World.

 

The combined image rights will eventually cost around €30m, though they could be spread out over his wages as bonuses, bringing the salary up to €20m per year.

 

Manchester United are eager to own the image rights so they can farm out Pogba’s many Facebook, Twitter and Instagram followers to sponsors.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

 

Manchester United Transfer News: Paul Pogba Rumours

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2653732-manchester-united-

transfer-news-paul-pogba-bastian-schweinsteiger-rumours?

 

Jul 24, 2016

 

Talks between Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba are at a “critical stage,” with a £110 million deal for the player said to be edging closer to completion.

That's according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, who noted the Red Devils are looking to get the transfer over the line before August. Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, reportedly flew out to Miami to meet his client and “discuss the finer details” of a move.

With Juventus said to be closing in on Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain in a £78 million transfer, according to Jones, there is a “general acceptance” Pogba will be allowed to leave Turin should the Red Devils meet Juve’s asking price.

The transfer saga has been a long-running one, but it seems it’s set to come to a close shortly. Here is a look at why so many United supporters are excited about the prospect of the France international returning to Old Trafford:

 

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Pogba has made major strides since he departed United in 2012, going on to become one of the standout players in Italian football and one of the most highly rated prospects in Europe. Even so, former team-mate and Red Devils icon Paul Scholes is unsure whether he’s worth theaforementioned sum.

“For that sort of money, you want someone who is going to score 50 goals a season like [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi,” Scholes toldDipesh Agarwal of Sport Witness. “Pogba is nowhere worth that kind of money yet.”

Indeed, as noted by Bleacher Report UK, should these deals go ahead, Juventus would still be in a strong position next term:

 

 

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United would be much better off with Pogba in the side. Manager Jose Mourinho looks to balance physicality and quality on the ball with his teams, two areas in which the Frenchman excels. Pogba could be the player around whom this process takes place, having been too good for many Serie A opponents to handle down the years.

What United will want to do is get this move secured as quickly as possible. Should Pogba transfer for a world-record sum, there will be enormous pressure on him to perform. Therefore, the more time he has to integrate himself into the squad and acclimatise to these expectations as a United player, the better.

[Socrates 8056]

 

 

Juventus don't need to sell Pogba

http://www.football-italia.net/88273/juventus-dont-need-sell-pogba

 

Jul 24, 2016

 

Juventus are paying €90m for Gonzalo Higuain, but Sky Sport Italia report that doesn’t mean Paul Pogba has to leave.

 

The Bianconeri stunned rivals Napoli by activating Higuain’s release clause, which due to a loophole will cost them €90m rather than the full €94.7m.

 

It was assumed that Pogba’s sale to Manchester United or Real Madrid would finance the move, but Sky Sport Italia point out this morning that isn’t necessarily true.

 

For a start, the €90m can be spread out over two years of payments to Napoli, so qualify only as €45m per season on the budget.

 

Secondly, Juve intend to raise the funds by selling Mario Lemina, Simone Zaza and Roberto Pereyra, who are all surplus to requirements.

 

Third, after Real Madrid dived into the negotiations too, Juve decided to increase the price-tag for Pogba and reject the latest offer of €110m plus €10m bonuses.

 

There’s also the issue of agent Mino Raiola’s commission, said to be €20m, which Juventus want to be paid separately from the transfer fee.

 

Another question will be around Pogba’s own motivation, as he might not want to leave a Juventus side that is building a squad capable of Champions League triumph.

 

With Miralem Pjanic, Medhi Benatia, Dani Alves, Marko Pjaca and Higuain coming in, the Bianconeri have to be considered among the favourites to win the tournament this season.

 

On the other hand, Pogba would be just one of many stars at Real Madrid and Manchester United aren’t even in the Champions League.