Let's face it, Paul Pogba is heading back to Manchester United. The 23-year-old has long been linked with a move away from Juventus with Real Madrid and his former club constantly reiterating their interest in him. He's won four Scudetto titles with the Turin club and has reached the finals of the UEFA Champions League but is sure to hit his stride upon moving to one of the two aforementioned clubs.
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Pogba is an exceptional talent and that's why Juventus have asked for a world-record fee from Ed Woodward and the rest of the Manchester United hierarchy. He can score goals, he can create chances and most of all, he can win you games.
While all the news is currently focused on United signing the Frenchman, there's not much talk on who could potentially replace the dynamic midfielder for Massimiliano Allegri's side. Here are five players who could very do the job for the Italian side: (In no particular order whatsoever)
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Ivan Rakitic
It's highly likely Barcelona will want to sell Ivan Rakitic to anyone this summer or the next. The Croatian has been an incredible signing for Luis Enrique and the Catalans winning the UEFA Champions League once and the La Liga twice in the last two years.
Alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, he's formed a formidable partnership often releasing the forward players with ease. Just like Pogba, Rakitic is inclined to burst forward often and get into the box in the right place at the right time.
At Juventus, Rakitic will slot in easily alongside the likes of Claudio Marchisio, Hernanes, and Sami Khedira often playing the same role his predecessor did. Only this time, he'll have a deadly combination in Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain.
Rakitic could very well a perfect replacement for Pogba at Juventus but he'll either cost the club – in transfer fees and wages – a lot or will simply choose to stay with Barcelona where he can play with the likes of Lionel Messi, Iniesta and the like.
Blaise Matuidi
A Frenchman to replace his compatriot? Blaise Matuidi has gone from strength to strength whilst in Paris Saint-Germain. The 29-year-old is an apt replacement for Pogba; he attacks well, defends when necessary but the only stumbling block could be his age.
Juventus will want to look at someone younger who could grow into what Pogba was but given the lack of transfer options and an inflated market, the choice of investing in someone proven like Matuidi could very well be a masterstroke.
Matuidi is the kind of midfielder who could sprint all game and given that isn't what Pogba did or what he was as a player, Matuidi's experience in the game and ability to read the game better than most in his position could be a huge advantage for the Turin club.
He's won four French titles with the Parisian club and has been a regular in the UEFA Champions League outlining his obvious worth. Alongside a runner in Sami Khedira, Matuidi could excel at shifting between attack and defence.
Axel Witsel
Axel Witsel was once one of the most sought after midfielders in the world but has since dipped in performances and marketability. The Russian League can do that to you but Witsel is still capable of producing moments of magic that could turn games on its head.
Witsel is touted to move to the Premier League this season but given how Juventus could use someone who can do both attack and defend equally, the Belgian suddenly seems like an option they'd want to consider.
He can score goals, – he scored 6 last season – he can assist and he can win you games given you have the right team around him. Witsel is a dynamic midfielder and is strong in the air as well. His experience in winning titles and participating in the UEFA Champions League on a regular basis is a huge bonus for the Turin club.
Nemanja Matic
Possibly the most defensive-minded midfielder on this list, Nemanja Matic will ensure the attacking midfielder in your teams can express themselves without having to worry about who's shielding the back four.
At Juventus, Claudio Marchisio and host of the younger midfielders – including new signing Miralem Pjanic – will love having a player like Matic in their team. He's a sitter. He breaks up play using his obvious physical advantage and ensures he gets the ball to the nearest available attacking option.
Matic is not a goalscorer like Pogba was and isn't the kind of player who would go up and assist in attacking plays. He's comfortable doing the dirty back at the back and ensuring his side doesn't concede. With experience including winning two Premier League titles with Chelsea, he'll be a handful for the oppositions to handle and could hugely benefit Juventus in a season where they'll be targeting the UEFA Champions League just as strongly.
Toni Kroos
Not particularly known for his knack of getting into the box and scoring goals but Toni Kroos is otherwise the perfect midfielder. His passing is exquisite, his movement of the ball is exquisite, his ability to sniff out chances and even break play is equally impressive.
Kroos is a joy to watch and alongside someone as technical as Luka Modric, is even more so. At Turin, he'll have compatriot Sami Khedira alongside Claudio Marchisio to what he does best which is to release his forwards.
Kroos is almost a no-brainer for Juventus. He's got all the right ingredients and he has the experience from playing at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to fit into any club in the world – less so at a club as big at Juventus.
The German is a natural at both attacking and defending but where he lacks is in a natural athletic ability to run and hurt opponents at the right time. He's more of a passer and since the club have a plethora of attacking options, having someone pull the strings at the back isn't such a bad thing.
