Juventus sporting director Giuseppe Marotta has responded to mounting speculation linking Paul Pogba with a move away from Turin this summer.
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The French international looks set to be one of the most sought-after talents in the transfer window, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona all believed to be keen on the powerhouse according to Le 10 Sport.
Manchester City have also been heavily linked with his signature, and it is believed that the 2014 Premier League champions are considering a move to bring the ex-Manchester United star back to England [Manchester Evening News].
However, responding to speculation, Juve’s Marotta has affirmed his desire to keep hold of a ‘key player’ for the Old Lady.
“He’s a key player for the Juventus team,” the sporting director began, as reported by Le 10 Sport, “Pogba is not on the market, unless he wants to leave the club and that’s not the case.”
It remains to be seen whether the midfielder may begin to agitate for a move away from Turin, particularly if the giants mentioned above formalise their interest in the international.
Similarly, despite a magnificent campaign, in which he scored eight goals and contributed three assists as Max Allegri’s side lifted the Italian title, the midfielder struggled in the Champions League final.
Against truly elite opponents, on the elite stage, Pogba struggled to impose himself and largely failed to keep a handle on Barca’s central trio of Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta.
While the Catalan giants—who won the European Cup after beating Juve 3-1 in the final—have already publicly declared their appreciation of the midfielder [Goal], a move to City may also be appealing.
The influence of Yaya Toure began to wane last season, with the midfielder only managing 10 goals and one assist in 29 Premier League outings.
Although he did win the African Cup of Nations title with the Cote d’Ivoire, the powerhouse has been accused of a series of lazy displays in the heart of the Sky Blues’ midfield [Telegraph].
Pogba—who offers a delightful combination of defensive and offensive qualities—would be a near-perfect replacement for the Elephant.