La Stampa have backed up L’Equipe’s claims of serious Manchester United interest in completing a deal for Paul Pogba. French newspaper L’Equipe on Thursday ran a full page article covering Manchester United’s efforts to sign the player.
Edward Woodward has allegedly already started talks with Juventus and is set for more next week, with L’Equipe believing that’s when an offer will be submitted. The transfer effort is said to be encouraged by Jose Mourinho, and Woodward wants to please the Portuguese manager.
From a Turin perspective, La Stampa say Juve’s initial reaction will always be that Pogba is not for sale. For that to change, Pogba would have to tell Juventus he wants to leave and then a buying club provide a huge offer.
On Juve’s side, say La Stampa, is the fact Pogba quite likes playing in the Champions League, and due to what the newspaper call ‘the disasters of Louis van Gaal’ that isn’t possible at Manchester United next season.
That doesn’t kill things, because La Stampa point out that working with Mourinho is an attraction for the French midfielder.
La Stampa have had many claims about Pogba and interest, including from Manchester United, down the years. Of course, up to now they’ve all led to nothing and Pogba remains at Juventus.
There’s no way of knowing whether this is the usual routine or something more concrete, but if you wanted to believe the rumours there’s several things which could help.
Last summer there were very strong reports of Chelsea interest in Pogba and, perhaps more interestingly, a failed move referred to several months after the event, when everything had calmed down.
The Mino Raiola connection is another aspect, the agent could be doing so much business at Manchester United this summer that he deserves his own Carrington parking space.
