beIN SPORTS

By Adam Digby (@Adz77)

Is he worth it? Since talk of Paul Pogba leaving Juventus became more than just rumours, that is a question that has been repeated over and over by fans of both Manchester United and other clubs. The French international left Old Trafford just four years ago, the Bianconeri paying a mere €800,000 in compensation for the then-teenager who they may now sell for a fee of around €140 million. Even in today’s inflated transfer market, that level of profit seems insane.

Yet to anyone who has watched the trajectory of his career closely, the answer to that initial question would have to be an emphatic “yes!” for one simple reason: Paul Pogba is just that damn good.

Of course, his detractors – and there are plenty – would point to his recent performances at Euro 2016 and laugh at the suggestion he should become the world’s most expensive player. There is no denying he struggled to shine at this summer’s tournament, finding himself dropped for the second group game as Coach Didier Deschamps sought out a solution to improve the fortunes of Les Bleus. 

Antoine Griezmann also found himself on the bench for that outing against Albania, but was restored to the starting XI in his natural position. While the Atlético Madrid forward quickly found form and was named Player of the Tournament, Pogba remained largely anonymous as France lost to Portugal in the final.

But the 23-year-old has not strayed far from the news since then. Hugely visible at the ESPYs, he has holidayed with Romelu Lukaku in the USA, taking on the Everton and Belgium striker at basketball, while going out running in Miami while wearing a full Lebron James Cleveland Cavaliers uniform.

A series of leaks to the press in the UK, France and Italy have seen various details of his potential decision to leave Juventus emerge, with it now seemingly unlikely he will be back wearing the famous black and white stripes any time soon. Few clubs, if any, could refuse the kind of sum being offered, with the fee currently more than the €125 million his current club paid for their Juventus Stadium home which opened in 2011.

The Paris native joined the club just twelve months later, and found himself surrounded by some of the world’s best midfielders. Carlos Tevez once told Alvaro Morata that playing in Serie A is like going to university for a striker, yet perhaps few players have ever received the kind of education Pogba has enjoyed in Turin.

Before he arrived, the grand Old Lady of Italian football had won the 2011/12 league title without losing a single game, their success built wholly upon the 3-5-2 formation of Antonio Conte. Across the middle of the park, the Coach could call upon Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, yet pretty soon Pogba had forced his way into the current Chelsea boss’ plans.

“Pogba is one of those players who leaves you speechless," veteran goalkeeper Gigi Buffon remarked shortly afterwards. "Myself and my team-mates, even in the third or fourth training session with him when he was still a stranger, wondered if they are blind in Manchester." But even if Sir Alex Ferguson’s judgement was being questioned, the player himself wasted no time learning from those around him.

“I am happy to play alongside them, they are the best in Italy and if I want to be the same I must learn from them,” Pogba said in an interview with the Juventus website back in 2014. “When I do something it’s because I want to be the best, I will have to make a lot of sacrifices but I hope to win the Ballon d’Or one day.”

That is a topic he has constantly referred back to ever since arriving in Italy, that desire to be the very best player in the world, and it has been reflected in some increasingly mature performances. That is particularly true of last season, Pogba taking his game to an even higher level as he recorded career-highs in terms of both goals (10) and assists (14), each figure highlighting a vast improvement in his play.

The first was testament to his dedication to learning the art of set-piece delivery, now an added weapon in his arsenal, while the latter showcases a vastly improved willingness to make the right pass. More than just sheer assists, 2015/16 saw Pogba far more heavily involved in team moves, making important passes in the build up to goals rather than just launching a wayward shot of his own.

His shooting has improved too, but Pogba is undeniably at his best when play becomes chaotic, breaking down opposition attacks before striding forward with great purpose. He has a wonderful first touch and unfathomable technical ability, able to slip past defenders gracefully or bully them off the ball physically. 

He has blistering acceleration and is unafraid of hard work, learning the finer points of midfield play as well as sharpening his tactical acumen in a league famous for exactly that. In a game where the most influential and creative players are largely white, Pogba cannot help but stand out and that is a marketing opportunity that will not be lost on the shrewd business minds in Manchester.   

At just 23-years-old he is only going to get better, and there is already no peer he can really be compared to. It is perhaps somewhat apt that he wore a Lebron jersey for that training jog down in South Beach, as it seems likely Paul Pogba will take his talents to Old Trafford. 

He’s most definitely worth every cent.