Possible destinations of Paul Pogba for 2015/16

Bale Pogba

Paul Pogba. These have been the first two words team directors of any of Europe’s footballing superpowers have uttered when asked about their transfer plans for 2015/16. The dynamic French midfielder is the hottest commodity of football at the moment. Clubs are lining up at his doorstep with ever-improving offers each passing day and it only seems a matter of time before his club Juventus get an offer worth listening to.The possibilities are exciting but they are accompanied by doubts. Which club would benefit the most from Pogba? Which destination could elevate Pogba to the level everyone assumes he will reach? Is this another example of clubs trying to steal transfer targets of rivals, concentrating more on them and less on themselves? And lastly, what would be the most prudent decision for Juve amid all this chaos? Here are the possible destinations for the Frenchman this summer.

#1 Real Madrid

Bale Pogba

Much as Los Merengues would like to replace Iker Casillas, they cannot afford to spend another season with the unbalanced midfield of Kroos, Isco and James Rodriguez. The energy and drive of Modric was sorely missed when the Croatian was out injured and Pogba would be the ideal replacement in such a scenario.

The performances of the Frenchman in Serie A and Europe have garnered considerable attention. That, too, makes him a suitable signing for Florentino Perez, who looks at a player’s crowd-pulling and shirt-selling ability as much as his footballing skills.

The move, however, could turn out to be potentially problematic. For starters, even for a player of the calibre and potential of Pogba, it is far from easy to break into the starting eleven of Real Madrid. The lack of playing time could turn out to be frustrating for a 22-year old midfielder wanting to develop.

If and when he does start, he will have to contend with the limelight of Santiago Bernabeu - a smouldering cauldron of pressure, where the fans are more demanding, more impatient than anywhere else and the pressure to perform is immense.

The pitch of Real in recent years has been smattered with the carcasses of several promising players, even Ballon d’Or winners such as Kaka, who thought the big time had arrived, but instead nose-dived into mediocrity.

Pogba will have to ensure he does not become just another failed player in the all-white jersey, because the only way from there is down.

#2 Manchester City

Toure

The Citizens endured a difficult 2015/16 season, starting strongly but eventually surrendering the title to Chelsea rather tamely. For an expensively assembled team, their fortunes nevertheless seem to revolve around the presence and form of Yaya Toure. City invariably experience a slump in form when Toure leaves for national duty in the African Cup of Nations.

Moreover, the reluctance of Toure this season to track back and defend suggests that a re-evaluation of his role as a box-to-box midfielder may be needed.

Paul Pogba could prove to be the ideal foil for Toure’s attacking role. He could also turn out to be the long-term successor to the Ivorian with his all-action style of play, something which will set well with the football of Premier League too.

If he, therefore, wishes to leave Juventus this summer for a club where he would walk into the starting eleven, be appreciated for his playing style and further refine it by learning from Toure himself, then Manchester City might just be the ideal transfer.

There will, of course, also be the added incentive of rubbing salt in the still-open wounds of Manchester United.

#3 Manchester United

Pogba United

"There was no one left to play in midfield. And I was training and I was beginning to get better bit by bit and the coach never stopped telling me, 'You're this far'. And I didn't understand. This far away from what? Playing? From having some playing time? From getting on the field? Or what? And there was Rafael in midfield and I was disgusted. I was disgusted and I didn't get on either."

Pogba’s stay at Manchester United left him with a bad taste in his mouth, not to mention negligible game-time. Three years on after a free transfer to Juventus, Manchester United have the opportunity to rectify their mistake, although it will cost them a large chunk of the possible transfer budget of 150-200 million pounds.

The inclusion of Pogba in the ranks of United could prove to be the final missing link in rekindling the characteristic energy of Louis van Gaal’s teams in possession of the ball. The Dutch manager had frequently lamented his side’s inability to control matches from start to finish in the season gone by. In Pogba, van Gaal will have the ideal box-to-box midfielder accompanying Carrick and a playmaker (Mata/Herrera) to form a central midfield that will probably fulfill his wish.

The move looks good on paper, but has far too many chances of failing in practice. Pogba’s earlier stay and subsequent exit would surely make circumstances uncomfortable, at least initially.

More importantly, at this point, both parties seem to have other options available - Pogba is being courted by all major clubs, while United are also looking at other midfielders in the same role who will not only cost less, but also avoid possible bad press and ill-will within the team.

For now, the story of the returning prodigal son (or club, take your pick) remains a distant dream.

#4 Barcelona

Pogba Barca

The situation with Barcelona for Pogba is contrasting in some ways to that with Manchester United. Both parties clearly like each other - Barca presidential candidate Agusti Benedito is basing his electoral campaign on the Frenchman’s signing, while Pogba too has contacted the former to discuss the possibility of a transfer.

Barcelona’s midfield currently enjoys an exalted status among Europe’s elite and it is difficult to find a place as ideal for the development of a midfielder as the training grounds of the Blaugrana.

Having said that, one cannot fathom a place for Pogba in Barcelona’s treble-winning first team. The culture of football at Camp Nou, and in Spain in general, will also take time getting used to. The move will possibly turn Pogba into a more complete player in the longer term, but it will also mean forgoing some first team action for the cause.

In any case, Barcelona have a transfer ban imposed on them till January 2016 and although an unofficial agreement can always be reached, Pogba would want to keep playing in the mean time.

Which begs the question, what does he do for now?

#5 Juventus

Pogba Paul

Juventus have given Pogba everything a talented youngster could have asked for- playing time, professional success and an opportunity to play alongside players like Buffon,Pirlo, Marchisio, Vidal, Chiellini and Tevez.

This does not imply that Juventus now demand the loyalty of Pogba, in fact quite the contrary- it is an indication that Juventus might yet have an important role to play in the development of Pogba’s career.

He may have been dubbed the next superstar of football, but the truth is that Paul Pogba is still in the nascent stages of a midfielder’s journey. He may have clubs falling over each other to get his signature, but the fact is he is yet to achieve a true-hero status in Turin itself.

An extended stay in Italy would not be ill-advised: the tactical nature of Serie A will only help him and so will his continuously evolving role in the Bianconeri first eleven, particularly with Pirlo receding from the picture. Only when we watch a Juventus team two years from now, built around Pogba, will we come to realize his true capabilities, his actual value to a football team, his real worth.

Until then, his potential is about as useful to a football fan as his transfer rumours- exciting maybe, but ultimately baseless and imaginary.

#6 Paris Saint-Germain

Pogba France

The idea of returning to his country of birth might lure Pogba to PSG. A midfield trio of Pogba, Yohan Cabaye and Blaise Matuidi is already functioning smoothly for the national team and their combination at club level will ensure a strong midfield core for both, the Parisians and Le Bleus. The contract offer by PSG is also certain to be as lucrative for Pogba as anywhere else.

On the other hand, PSG have plenty of depth in midfield with Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta, Cabaye, Matuidi, Javier Pastore and young Adrien Rabiot in the squad. What they do not have is flexibility with UEFA Financial Fair Play.

Already slapped with a fine of 60 million euros, cutting down of the Champions League squad and financial restrictions in the transfer market, the need of the hour for the Paris-based club is to strengthen the weak areas and make financially sensible moves. The signing of Pogba hardly seems like one.

Furthermore, the move appears to contradict the general trajectory of Pogba’s career. The French international left France for England at the young age of 16 to pursue his footballing education. He then signed with Juventus to get more playing time and play alongside accomplished players.

The obvious move now would be to play in a superior league with more competition. With all due respect to French Ligue 1, it does not fulfill these requirements and returning to France has the potential of stagnating Pogba’s development. The desire of playing for a major club with a rich history and worldwide support might also play a role in discouraging Pogba from joining PSG.

The verdict is clear- the money is there, but the thrill will be gone.

#7 On a final note

A return to Old Trafford for ‘La Pioche’ is highly unlikely, while the need for a new challenge and assurance of ample playing time might encourage him to join the Sky Blues of Manchester. The lure of the Premier League, however, is not what it used to be and a move to La Liga seems more probable.

Pogba himself has shown an inclination towards Barcelona, and due to the latter’s transfer ban, there might be an agreement to sign and then loan him back to Juventus for another year- a positive move for all three parties concerned.

Real Madrid are not ones to be left behind, especially when it comes to competing with rivals Barcelona. The only factor that can help them seal the deal is the presence of Zinedine Zidane in their ranks, who also played for Juventus and went on to become a Real Madrid great. With Zizou by his side, Pogba surely has a better chance to succeed at Real Madrid and become the footballer he wants to be.

The ball is with Paul Pogba - it always was. Time to see if he can achieve his long-term goals with the precision of his long-range shots.

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Edited by Staff Editor