Juventus secured their third consecutive Serie A win by dominating relegation battlers Cremonese 2-0 on Sunday, but the victory was overshadowed by Paul Pogba’s recurring injury.
Following a 1-1 draw with Sevilla in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals, Juve entered the Allianz Stadium in new kits. Pogba started for the first time this season, as the Frenchman had been struggling with a lingering injury since his return.
However, the No. 10 was dealt a blow as he limped off just 21 minutes into the game, making way for Arkadiusz Milik.
The home side controlled the game but couldn’t break through the defense until the 55th minute when Federico Chiesa assisted Nicolo Fagioli to score. Later, Bremer headed in a goal to seal the win.
With the victory, Juve still rank second with 66 points, three points ahead of Inter Milan.
Elsewhere, Monza, already safe from relegation, stunned newly-crowned Napoli 2-0 in a dead rubber. Roma’s top-four hopes were dented after a goalless draw with Bologna.
Also on Sunday, Fiorentina defeated Udinese 2-0, while Torino won 1-0 away against Hellas Verona.
Manchester United’s interim manager Ralf Rangick has all but confirmed Paul Pogba will leave the club for Real Madrid.
Pogba is out of contract at Man Utd this summer and is set to leave Old Trafford as a free agent for the second time after refusing to commit to a new deal.
But the situation doesn’t appear be much of an issue for Rangnick who is more than happy to help the Frenchman as seeks to secure his dream move.
According to Mirror Football, Pogba is close to a return after injury and Rangnick said he will play him, despite his contract expiring, if only because the midfielder will want to put himself in the shop window for a lucrative move to his preferred destination – which is Madrid.
Rangnick is qutoed by the British tabloid saying: “Yes of course. By the way, my contract as a manager is also expiring in the summer. So for us, we have the same goal.
“We have the same ambition to be as successful as we can possibly be in the next three or four months.
“For me it’s not a question if a player has an expiring contract, the question is how much does he still want to be a part of this group?
“As long as this is the case, why shouldn’t Paul Pogba now, after two-and-a-half months of injury, being fully fit again now, play? He also wants to show up.
“He wants to show the fans of Manchester United, the board, the whole world, what kind of player he can be, even if it’s only to show enough for a new contract elsewhere.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has denied claims that he was been offered a new deal worth £500,000 per week in early January.
The 28-year-old French star insists his only focus is on returning from injury and that the club have made no offer of an extension in recent months.
Pogba has been on the sidelines since suffering a hamstring injury during the November international break and he is yet to make an appearance under United interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
Pogba’s current contract is due to end at the season which means he is currently free to talk to clubs outside England with Real Madrid Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus hot on your heels .
He moved to Old Trafford in a £89million transfer from Juventus in 2016
In December interim boss Rangnick issued a stern message to Pogba suggesting he is only interested in working with players who are dedicated to the club rather than contract rebels.
He started this season in brilliant form with seven assists in the first four Premier League games of the season.
But his last top-flight appearance for United came in the 5-0 thrashing by their fierce rivals Liverpool in October, during which he came off the bench at half time and was sent off for a horror tackle after just 15 minutes.
Pogba is expected to return to fitness in late January.
Juventus have offered Paulo Dybala to Manchester United to complete Paul Pogba’s swap deal.
The Italian giants opted to include one of their stars, Dybala to counter Real Madrid who have also offered Gareth Bale to United.
Pogba is reported to be favouring a return to Turin rather than join Madrid, but United still need to agree to let him leave.
But Zinedine Zidane could be a big factor too. The pair respect each other massively and the player would be key in the coach’s setup at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Alex Sandro and Blaise Matuidi could also be offered in exchange for Pogba, with Maurizio Sarri’s arrival placing question marks on their respective futures.
Pobga is set to hold talks with Manchester United Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this week over his future ahead of the new season.
United boss has made it clear that he wants the French midfielder to be part of his new team at Old Trafford.
But Pogba is not keen on staying at United after falling out with many fans over inconsistent performance during his spell at the club.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is reportedly prioritising a return to Juventus this summer to play alongside Cristino Ronaldo.
Pogba is Zinedine Zidane’s top remaining target, but Real Madrid are unwilling to stump up the £150million required.
Apart from playing alongside Ronaldo, Pogba would also prefers a switch back to his old club.
Zidane has already seen £344m worth of new players come through the door this summer.
Real president Florentino Perez is reluctant to spend the £150m that United would want for Pogba, meaning Juventus and PSG could outgun the Spanish side.
Reports indicate Ronaldo has meddled in the negotiations for Paul Pogba, Matthijs de Ligt and Joao Felix to ensure that they don’t strengthen direct Champions League rivals Real Madrid.
Ronaldo is said to be trying to ensure that Real Madrid do not strengthen significantly with Pogba and De Ligt now tilting towards Juventus over Real Madrid.
Madrid are especially interested in Paul Pogba, with Zidane informing Florentino Perez the French midfielder is hi top target this summer.
Real Madrid new signing Ferland Mendy has revealed in his press conference that Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe could be on their way to Madrid.
“Mbappé and Pogba? Why could not they come to Real Madrid? They are two very good players,” said Mendy, adding that he did not talk to them about Real Madrid.
The former Lyon fullback who was was presented as a Real Madrid player on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu also said he is yet to meet Zinedine Zidane.
The Madrid boss was very keen for Los Blancos to sign the left-back, as the French side’s president revealed, he called Mendy to encourage him to join the 13-time Champions League winners, though the defender stated that he has not yet spoken with Zidane.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet,” Mendy revealed at his press conference.
“I hope to do so soon. He’s been very important in me coming here.
“It’s an honour to share a dressing room with a legend like him. It’s special because I’ve followed him since I was a kid.”
Mendy will compete with Marcelo for the left-back spot in the team, though he understands that he will have to fight for his place.
“We haven’t seen each other shirtless,” the defender responded to a question relating to the physical condition between the two.
“I’ll have to see him and talk to him. I don’t know what could happen.
Juventus chief Pavel Nedved has travelled to Monaco to bolster the Italian giants assault to lure Paul Pogba back to Turin.
Nedved will meet with Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola in France as Juve seek to accelerate the process.
Last week, Juve sports chief Fabio Paratici met with United officials in London to discuss the move for the French and talks are reported to have centred around a multi-player swap.
And sandwiched between the two meetings was Pogba’s bombshell on Sunday in Tokyo, where the midfielder declared he wants a move away.
Pogba said, “Like you said, there is a lot of talking and a lot of thinking as well.
“For me I have been for three years in Manchester and have been doing great, some good moments and some bad moments, like everybody. Like everywhere else.
“After this season and everything that happened this season, with my season being my best season as well… I think for me it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else.
“I am thinking of this – to have a new challenge somewhere else.”
Juventus have launched a multi-player swap bid for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.
Reports in Italy say Juve want to bring Pogba back to Turin just three years after his €105m transfer to Old Trafford.
Pogba had been pushing for Real Madrid, but as they spent big already on Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic, but there are fears that the Spanish giants could drop interest in Pogba leaving Juve as the more likely avenue.
But despite Juve’s interest, Reports in Spain indicate Real Madrid are also pushing the same swap deal for Pogba which could see Bale go to Old Trafford.
Real Madrid could offer Gareth Bale to Manchester United in return for Paul Pogba.
“The Spanish giants are considering using the Welshman as make-weight in a deal for the French World Cup winner,” the Daily Mirror reported.
Juve however aim to lower the price-tag significantly by including players in an exchange deal, with the likes of left-back Alex Sandro, winger Douglas Costa or forward Paulo Dybala all mentioned as makeweights.
Pogba enjoyed four years at Juve and is regular tourist in Turin visiting friends and former teammates, most recently last month at a party for Andrea Barzagli’s retirement.
Real Madrid’s decision to renew the contract of Toni Kroos has taken Mino Raiola and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba after Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane made it open that he wanted Pogba.
It’s also been revealed the Kroos deal has left Raiola who is also Kroos’ agent ‘outraged’ amid fears the move could now collapse.
The German international’s one-year extension and the subsequent salary increase could have consequences for ‘Operation Pogba’.
Paul Pogba is a personal request of Zinedine Zidane, whom the French coach wants even more so than Eden Hazard.
Hazard would be more of a strategic signing, while Pogba, with his commanding presence, is the player around whom Zidane wants to build his new project.
But now, with Kroos’ contract renewed, Madrid may not be willing to go all out for the Manchester United midfielder this summer.
The new deal for the German, which runs to 2023, includes a substantial pay-rise which could hit the budget put aside to sign Pogba.
Zidane is demanding Pogba be signed, but his board and president Florentino Perez isn’t so sure.
And the commitment of Kroos is being used by directors to argue Pogba is no longer needed and that the budget should be spent on strengthening other team positions.
There is a possibility of Manchester United replacing their entire midfield after a disastrous season that saw United miss out on Champions League football.
With Ander Herrera on the verge of joining Paris Saint Germain upon the expiry of his contract, Paul Pogba talking of joining his countryman Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid and Nemanja Matic aeging, they may have no other choice.
Despite the whole team requiring fresh blood, a midfield revamp would be a good start for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. So what will United midfield look like at the start of next season?
Scott McTominay’s form in the past few weeks has seen him get starts and praises from fans. And while some doubt his true quality, there can be no doubting his commitment to the red shirt, as an academy graduate.
McTominay has also earned the trust of manager Solskjaer meaning one way or the other, he will be around next season.
The 22-year-old has shown leadership credentials and even displayed a new-found eye for goal, enjoying a slightly more advanced role than he fulfilled under his former mentor, Jose Mourinho.
So whether in that box-to-box position, as a potential Herrera replacement, or deeper in the midfield when required, McTominay is sure to play a a good number of United’s games next season.
United fans have always bragged about having Sanchez, Paul Pogba and Fred’ within their ranks but next season could present new faces with at least two of these names set to leave.
Fred is most likely to remain at Old Trafford and could be built into the rounded defensive midfielder the team need. The £52 million signing struggled for the better part of the season, but there have instance of improvements and the team is hopeful he will develop into a complete product.
United also need to start looking beyond the ageing Matic, who has failed to hit his Chelsea 2014-15 form in a United shirt despite some good show, though with inconsistency.
The Pogba question
The biggest question United need to answer over the summer and the one that could shape the future of Solskjaer’s midfield is to keep Pogba, or to let him go?
There is no point keeping a player who has openly indicated he want to be in another club besides, Pogba has been inconsistent since his arrival from Juventus although was in electric form when Solskjaer arrived.
Club legend Paul Scholes slammed Pogba accusing him of living ‘in his own little fantasy world’.
“He thinks he is the big player, the one that needs to show people he is the best in the world and he doesn’t,” Scholes said.
“He just needs to play simple, he’s got teammates around him who should appreciate him and do appreciate him.”
If Real Madrid are ready to swoop, United should cash in and reinvest the money in other lacking departments. European football has exciting creative midfield options United have the muscles to buy if need be.
But if United want to keep the Frenchman, as they have intimated, Solskjaer must somehow help him rediscover his best form.
United must invest in the area they view as a priority.
If they don’t believe either Fred or Matic can do the job at the base of midfield, buy a holding midfielder. If they don’t believe McTominay is the best Herrera’s replacement, they need to buy. The same goes for replacing Pogba.
Fans talk about solving United’s defensive troubles and indeed adding goals to the forward line, but the midfield could be the biggest rebuilding job at Old Trafford this summer.
Big names such as Sanchez, Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Matic could be moved to create room for new arrivals as Solskjaer said some of the players are appearing for United for the last time.
“You are seeing some of these players for the last time in Manchester United colours,” Solskjaer said after the Huddersfield draw.
Rashford and Martial have been on the receiving end and are being accused of lack of commitment and disrespect for the badge and this could turn the fans against them.
“I used to like Rashford, but I no longer think he has the right attitude to play for Manchester United, I don’t value him. He should go,” said Lenny Owuor, an dejected United fan from East Africa.