The man who left Manchester United in the summer is becoming more and more influential in the Italian champions’ side, capping off recent performances with a winning goal on Wednesday.
If there is one thing Manchester United have looked short of at times this season, it’s dynamism in their central midfield, and if Paul Pogba really did leave the club in search of first team opportunities, you have to say that Ferguson should have looked to get him more involved at Old Trafford.
Pogba is already looking eminently comfortable in the Juventus line up. Starting the last couple of matches alongside the majestic Andrea Pirlo he has become an important part of Juve’s excellent engine room. Pogba scored his first goal for the club coming on as a substitute in the top of the table clash with Napoli a couple of weeks ago, and picked up his second last night. With Juventus looking resigned to a home draw against Bologna, Pogba rose to head home a Giovinco cross to nab the three points for his side, helping them move four points clear in Serie A.
That extended lead came courtesy of Napoli losing 1-0 at Atalanta. Inter replaced the Neapolitan side in second place in the division with a 3-2 win against Sampdoria, and it is the Milanese club Juventus will face this weekend. Pogba will surely retain his place in the starting line-up for Saturday evening’s match, and he will be hoping he can repeat his heroics to put his side firmly in control of the title race.
With a youth set up as productive as Manchester United’s, along with the club’s necessity to challenge for every trophy they’re in, it can be difficult to integrate younger players into the side. There will always be players who end up becoming a big success elsewhere, the best recent example from United being Gerard Pique. However with Pique there were other factors in him wanting to go to Barcelona, with Pogba you feel he was happy to stay at Manchester United if given more of a chance.
In this case Manchester United’s loss has been very much Juventus’ gain. It might be particularly galling that Pogba has recently been playing ahead of Arturo Vidal, who has been linked with a £25 million move to Manchester. The Italian club have integrated Pogba well into the side, with impressive substitute appearances now being rewarded with starts, and he already is looking like a player of real quality.
Having picked up Pirlo and now Pogba on free transfers in the past couple of years, you get the impression Juventus are valuing players more accurately than their current clubs.
Will United regret not being able to keep Pogba?
image: © peacecup
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