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Mino Raiola: A chance Pogba returns to Juventus next summer

By James Cormack

BERN, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League group F match between BSC Young Boys and Manchester United at Stadion Wankdorf on September 14, 2021 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
BERN, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League group F match between BSC Young Boys and Manchester United at Stadion Wankdorf on September 14, 2021 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images) /
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Mino Raiola is up to his old tricks again. The super-agent has decided, on this innocuous Friday afternoon, to once again skyrocket the hopes of Juventini regarding a potential Paul Pogba reunion.

Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016 following a scintillating four years in Turin, during which he established himself as one of the world’s leading midfielders. The Frenchman notched 74 goal contributions in 178 Juventus appearances and claimed eight pieces of silverware, including four Scudetti, with the club.

Paul Pogba established himself among the world’s best at Juventus. (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images)
Paul Pogba established himself among the world’s best at Juventus. (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images) /

He’s also a one-time Juventus Player of the Year (2015/16) and one-time Serie A MVP (2013/14). In short, Pogba had a pretty good time of it in Turin and it’s fair to say the enigmatic midfielder’s pretty well-liked in Piedmont.

Despite his abnormal talent, the Frenchman’s perpetually divided opinion in Manchester and rumours linking him with a return to Juventus have been commonplace in both English and Italian media quarters. However, such rumours are often sparked by the astute antics of Pogba’s agent: the infamous Mino Raiola.

What’s Raiola said now?

Speaking to Rai Sport, Raiola once again opened the door to Pogba returning to Juventus next summer. The World Cup winner’s contract at Manchester United expires at the end of the 2021/22 season.

“Paul Pogba is out of contract in June, so we’ll talk with Man Utd and we’ll see what happens. Juventus? Paul still loves Turin. There’s a chance that Pogba will return to Juventus, yes – but it also depends on Juventus’ plans,” he said (via Fabrizio Romano).

Exciting, huh? Not really.

Tread with caution

Paul Pogba has reportedly been left impressed by United’s summer business and is more open to signing a new deal with the club. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Paul Pogba has reportedly been left impressed by United’s summer business and is more open to signing a new deal with the club. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images) /

This is vintage Raiola. Unfortunately, Juventini, the chances of Juventus picking up Pogba on a free transfer next summer are close to nil.

Stranger things have happened, sure, but this is an obvious ploy by the agent to gain a little bit of leverage in contract negotiations with United.

While Pogba isn’t exactly the happiest of bunnies in Manchester, Sky Sports recently reported that the Frenchman’s been left impressed by the club’s summer recruitment – with Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane arriving at Old Trafford – and is now more open to signing a new deal.

Even if it became clear that the 28-year-old would not be extending his current contract, Juventus would likely have to compete with the financial muscle of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for Pogba’s signature. While the midfielder’s the sort of talent you ditch a transfer policy to sign, it would seem unlikely for the Bianconeri to pursue Pogba considering his salary demands.

After lifting a huge financial burden off their shoulders in the summer, surely Juventus wouldn’t want to return such a burden not even a year later.

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