Why Pogba is so coveted by giants
WORLD AT HIS FEET: Paul Pogba’s skill on the ball and spectacular long-range shooting have made him a target for the richest clubs THE highly rated Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been linked to the richest clubs on the planet.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid are among those linked to the French international, with transfer fees upwards of £75-million suggested in some quarters. Young and undoubtedly talented, Pogba is a hugely exciting prospect — but why?
Pogba’s athleticism is plain to see, with few others covering quite as much ground as he does. In his Champions League matches this season, the 22-year-old has played a part in every section of the field.
And that is the very beauty of Pogba. He can do just about anything. From central midfield, he picked up one goal and three assists in nine appearances in Juve’s run to the Champions League final, while contributing to a further 11 goals in Serie A matches.
His long-range shooting is arguably the main reason he has attracted so much attention, and with five goals from outside the box this season — the most in the Italian top flight despite starting under a third of his team’s games — he is a huge threat from distance.
With 24 tackles and interceptions in European games he clearly makes a contribution without the ball, but it is in possession that he excels most.
For such a physically imposing player, his dribbling ability is exceptional, successfully beating an opponent 16 times over the course of this Champions League campaign before yesterday’s final.
With teammate Andrea Pirlo and Barcelona’s Xavi — the two dominant midfielders in their generation — now gone from the European stage, many believe Pogba could assume their mantle.
The array of his talents makes it difficult to name a team that he wouldn’t improve, and the rumours linking him to Europe’s elite clubs make perfect sense.
With Yaya Toure’s form wavering, Pogba may be the powerful midfield force that City require to finally establish themselves as a European force, but they hardly need more goals, having top-scored in this season’s Premier League and Pogba would not provide the extra protection they crave. For Madrid, too, a further threat in the opposition penalty area is not the priority.
Though Manchester United fans may find it difficult to see their team cough up for a player they let go for free only a few years ago, he would surely be an upgrade in attacking midfield on Marouane Fellaini.
It could well be Chelsea, however, that would benefit most from Pogba’s arrival. Their midfield trio of Oscar, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic scored only 10 Premier League goals between them this season, a tally that former player Frank Lampard would have obliterated in his heyday.
The Blues did more than enough to clinch the league title but could do with more goals from central midfield, and perhaps Pogba at the tip of the triangle would provide just that. —©