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3 ways Paul Pogba could fit in at Juventus next season

By James Cormack

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on April 9, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on April 9, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Juventus are trying to bring Paul Pogba back to Turin. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Juventus are trying to bring Paul Pogba back to Turin. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

The compilation goals. The midfield majesty. The dabs. The snazzy haircuts that aren’t ridiculed by the Daily Mail. They could all be returning to a Juventus near you very soon!

The Bianconeri are working hard on bringing Paul Pogba back to Turin this summer, with the player’s agent set to discuss a potential move with members of the club’s hierarchy on Monday afternoon.

Juventus’ midfield has never quite recovered from Pogba’s departure in 2016. The Frenchman, who emerged as one of Europe’s leading midfielders during his first spell at the club, helped the Old Lady to four straight Scudetti and the Champions League final in 2015 as he contributed to over 70 goals in 178 appearances.

Pogba’s virtuosity was immediately replaced by functionality in the middle of the park as Sami Khedira, Blaise Matuidi and Miralem Pjanic made up a well-balanced engine room. However, in the wake of the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in 2017, the midfield has been the most distinct problem area for Juventus amid their demise.

We’ve seen the respective declines of the aforementioned trio, free agents fail to make their mark, and players utilised in the wrong function. Juve’s midfield incompetence reached its lowest point under Andrea Pirlo last season which forced the club to make a move for Manuel Locatelli ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

And while Locatelli has brought some stability, further improvements are required if Juventus are to transform into a European supergiant once more. Whether Pogba is the right option at this stage of the club’s rebuild is up for debate, but we must consider the possibility of the enigmatic Frenchman donning the iconic black and white strip of Juventus next season.

3 ways Paul Pogba could be used at Juventus if he made a stunning return

Here are three ways Pogba could be utilised at Juve if he was to join on a free transfer.

1. Mezzala in 4-3-3

Pogba burst onto the scene at Juventus playing in a midfield three under Antonio Conte. (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Pogba burst onto the scene at Juventus playing in a midfield three under Antonio Conte. (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images) /

Pogba has failed to replicate the lofty heights he reached at Juventus for a sustained period at Manchester United.

Questions have been raised over Pogba’s optimal function, which led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deploying him off the left (pretty effectively) on occasions last season. The Frenchman has performed well for the national team in a double pivot but, for me, he’s at his best when playing in a midfield three.

During his first spell at Juve, Antonio Conte first utilised him as a bonafide box-to-box before he functioned as the side’s primary playmaker during the 2015/16 season – his last at the club.

Allegri will reportedly transition to a 4-3-3 next season and Pogba should slide in as one of the interiors. Presuming he retains the same possession structure that we’ve seen this season, the Frenchman will primarily operate from the left half-space and be given the freedom to create, combine and penetrate.

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