Juventus Want To Sign Star Midfielder Who Could Earn $556K-A-Week At Manchester United: Report

Juventus are reportedly planning to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United in the ongoing summer transfer window.

New head coach Massimiliano Allegri has made it clear to the Juventus management that he wants to re-sign Pogba, who spent four successful years with the Turin club earlier in his career, reported soccer website 90Min.

Former Juventus Director Fabio Paratici has insisted that Juventus have never been close to bringing Pogba back to Allianz Stadium, according to Italian publication Il Bianconero. "We are very fond of him, who came as a boy to us and grew up in Juventus. But it is very difficult for him to come back, we have never been close to bringing him back to Turin," Paratici told Bianconero in a recent interview.

Officials at Manchester United are believed to be divided in Pogba's case as the French star has entered the final year of his contract. In the club hierarchy, only a few want Pogba to sign an extension as they do not want him to leave Old Trafford as a free agent for the second time. But a new deal would see Pogba become the club's highest-paid player at $556,000-a week and a few officials are skeptical about retaining Pogba at that cost, the 90Min report revealed.

Even though world champions France were shockingly eliminated from Euro 2020 by Switzerland on penalties in the Round of 16 stage, Pogba's performances in the four matches he featured in showed why he is considered one of the best midfielders of the current generation.

Last year, Pogba had even admitted that he was unhappy at Manchester United, saying he never had such a difficult period in his career.

After coming through Manchester United's youth ranks, Pogba made his senior debut with the Red Devils during the 2011-12 season, making seven appearances across competitions. In the summer of 2012, Manchester United announced that Pogba had moved to Juventus after refusing to sign a new contract with the Premier League side. The French midfielder did not leave on very good terms as then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson had accused Pogba of disrespecting Manchester United.

"It is disappointing. I don't think he showed us any respect at all, to be honest. I'm quite happy that if they [footballers] carry on that way, they're probably better doing it away from us," Ferguson had said in an interview.

Pogba established himself as one of the best in the world during his stint with Juventus that lasted until 2016. In as many as 178 competitive appearances, Pogba scored 34 goals and made 40 assists as he helped the Serie A side win four consecutive league titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and two Supercoppa Italiana titles.

Ahead of the 2016-17 campaign, Pogba made a sensational return to Old Trafford as Manchester United signed him for a then-record fee of $124 million.