Paul Pogba admits he ‘always’ speaks to his ex-Juventus team-mates after returning to Turin to help France beat Belgium amid speculation over his future… but insists his focus is on ‘finishing well’ at Man United before his contract expires next summer
- Paul Pogba returned to Turin on Thursday for France’s Nations League semi-final
- The Frenchman played in Juventus’ Allianz Stadium for the 3-2 win over Belgium
- Pogba was asked whether he wants a permanent move to Italy next season
- The 28-year-old replied he is in constant communication with Juventus players
- Pogba has one season left on his Manchester United contract and could leave
Paul Pogba revealed he is in regular communication with his former Juventus team-mates amid speculation he could leave Manchester United on a free transfer and rejoin the Turin club.
The French midfielder has been strongly linked with a move back to Juventus, with his contract at Old Trafford expiring at the end of the current season – meaning he can negotiate a pre-contract deal with other clubs in just under three months’ time.
Pogba returned to Turin on Thursday night to play in France’s Nations League semi-final win over Belgium, which saw Les Bleus come from 2-0 down to beat the No 1 ranked in the side 3-2.
Paul Pogba (left) revealed he is still in communication with several Juventus players such as Paulo Dybala (right)
Pogba returned to Turin on Thursday to take part in France’s Nations League tie with Belgium
The 28-year-old, whose agent Mino Raiola admitted that Juventus and Turin are still in the player’s heart last month, was asked by Italian TV channel Mediaset whether he is willing to answer Juventus’ call over a return to the club.
Pogba responded: ‘I always speak to my former Juventus team-mates, like Paulo (Dybala). I’m in Manchester, I’ve still got a contract there for a year and then we’ll see.
‘I want to finish well there in Manchester, then we’ll see what happens.’
Pogba quit Juventus in 2016 to seal a then-world record £94million return to Manchester United, having come through the Premier League’s academy under Sir Alex Ferguson before jumping ship in Turin to 2012.
Pogba has one year left on his contract at Manchester United and could leave next year
Despite Pogba’s popularity in Old Trafford, his relationship with United has been fractured, with representative Raiola often critical of the way the Premier League giants run their football operations.
The Red Devils are yet to win a trophy since Pogba’s first season back at the club in 2017, with Italian agent Raiola slamming United for lacking a sporting direction back in late 2019.
Last month, Raiola revealed that Pogba’s future is still up in the air, but teased a return back to Juventus due to the player’s admiration of the city.
Raiola told RAI Sport in September of this year: ‘Pogba’s contract expires next year. We will talk to Manchester and see.
Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola (above), says Juventus and the city of Turin are still ‘in his heart’
‘For sure Turin has remained in his heart and he cares a lot about these things. The possibility of returning to Juventus is there but it also depends on Juve.’
Before Pogba stepped out onto the Turin field to take on Belgium in the Nations League last four clash, the Frenchman was urged by former Juventus team-mate Juan Cuadrado to stay in the Italian city and not go back to Manchester.
The Man United midfielder shared snaps of him on Instagram training with France at Juventus’ Allianz Stadium before the game, with the caption: ‘Nations League Finals under way!’
But Colombian winger Cuadrado commented: ‘Dear friend, stay home.’