4 European clubs which would suit Paul Pogba perfectly

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Pogba has had a tough start to the season at Unit

For many players, scoring in the final of a World Cup and leading their nation to glory signals an enormous turning point in their life. Zinedine Zidane's two goals in the final on home soil gave the French their first taste of World Cup glory and sent unbridled joy around Paris and the entire nation. Ronaldo's two goals in the finale against Germany served as redemption for the disaster that unfolded in Paris, as Brazil won the competition for the fifth time.

Paul Pogba matched the achievement of those two greats by scoring against Croatia and leading France to victory, showing a mature and disciplined side to his game. Things, however, at club level are not running so smoothly, as the discussion of a rift between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba continues on a widespread scale. The Frenchman's reported annoyance with the United manager has caught the attention of Gerard Pique, who said that a Pogba transfer to Barcelona would, `make us happy' in a press conference.

Another influential player in this saga is the midfielder's agent Mino Raiola, who might look to profit from the scenario and sort out a move for the former Juventus central midfielder. With all the speculation going on, we look at four European clubs that would suit the £89 million man perfectly.


FC Barcelona

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Gerard Pique explained his wish for Paul Pogba to join Barcelona

There is no question that the arrival of any player of Paul Pogba's quality would make any team happy and bolster any squad in Europe. One of the main advantages of moving to Barca would involve the Catalan's style of play and the fact they enjoy playing with the ball. Last year's La Liga champions might not possess the style and excitement of teams managed by Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, adopting a more functional and efficient approach under Ernesto Valverde.

Manchester United, however, like to play off the ball with Mourinho looking to break teams down in an efficient manner. Paul Pogba does not suit this style of play, as it limits his freedom and chance to completely express himself, with the Frenchman forced to play in a more defensive role than he would like. In the 2017-2018 campaign, the former Juventus man played alongside Nemanja Matic in a two man-midfield, with the pair serving as holding midfielders. The purchase of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk looks like an attempt to switch to a three-man midfield and unlock more of Pogba's creativity.

If he were to join Barcelona, he would most likely replace the former Schalke and Croatia international Ivan Rakitic, joining forces with Phillipe Coutinho and Sergio Busquets. This midfield offers spark and creativity that seems to elude Manchester United at this present time but has the defensive protection in the form of Sergio Busquets.

Manchester City

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David Silva with Kevin de Bruyne after the Carabao cup final

This transfer would send shockwaves across Europe and would serve as a hammer blow to Manchester United and their ability to attract star players. If you delve deeper into the City team and on the surface, it looks as though Paul Pogba would fit the Guardiola style perfectly. Pep's side play a 4-3-3, with Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva partnering in central midfield with Fernandinho providing the defensive protection needed to provide balance to the midfield.

Pep Guardiola's decision to change to the 4-3-3 saw de Bruyne play a deeper role and gave the Belgian a chance to demonstrate his passing range. Paul Pogba's passing range is comparable to the very best in the world, with the Frenchman being able to pick out attacks from anywhere on the park. While de Bruyne stayed back, Spanish midfielder David Silva looked for goal-scoring opportunities, with the former Barcelona manager Guardiola encouraging Silva to make more runs into the box. Pogba's presence and finishing ability would cause defenders nightmares, with the Frenchman very capable with both head and feet.

The 6ft 3in would add height to Manchester City, who can struggle defending corners and set pieces due to Pep's preference for shorter and more dynamic players. This transfer would make City the favourites for the Premier League and Champions League.

Juventus

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Could Paul Pogba be reunited with former team-mate Paulo Dybala?

Although Pogba seems like the person who relishes a new challenge and a possible change of scenery, a move to Juventus would make a lot of sense. Juve's midfield trio of Miralem Pjanic, Blaise Matuidi and Sami Khedira boasts many impressive qualities, with two World Cups, a Champions League title and several league titles between them. Pogba, however, would add an additional creativity to the midfield without sacrificing any protection needed for the ageing back four.

The Frenchman would improve on the goals and assists he manages at United, especially given Juve's purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo and his lethal finishing ability. Romelu Lukaku scored a very respectable 24 goals for Manchester United last season but has a tendency to squander chances at crucial moments.

The midfield would hit the ground running, given his familiarity with the club and some of the players such as Mario Mandzukic, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.

Real Madrid

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Paul Pogba competing with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric

Real Madrid are going through a monumental period in their history, as they try to cope with the departures of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and manager Zinedine Zidane who led Madrid to an unprecedented amount of success. Los Blanco's transfer policy has also changed in recent times with the Madrid club opting for a more moderate spending policy and an increased trust in youth. Players such as Marco Asensio, Borja Mayoral and Dani Ceballos would have been replaced by expensive and glamorous signings that would show Real's intent in the transfer market.

This current policy is a far cry form the days of the "Galacticos", where Fiorentino Perez set about breaking every transfer record possible. In order for Madrid to recover as a club and a brand, they have to replace Ronaldo with a player of Pogba's stature who can deliver the goods on the pitch and sell the shirts required to recoup the transfer fee.

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Edited by Ben Winfield
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