Paul Pogba would have been perfect for Pellegrini’s Manchester City

Paul Pogba

“If someone wants to believe in fairytales and Father Christmas that’s his prerogative,” commented Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini. According to the Daily Mail, this was was his response when questioned about whether team-mate Paul Pogba would stay at Juventus. “Paul is settled here and he’ll probably renew his contract,” he continued, “but you never know with the transfer market. Anything can happen.”

On a related note, recent quotes from Patrick Vieira, now the Elite Development Squad manager at Manchester City, will no doubt ignite speculation regarding a possible move to the Etihad stadium. “He’s a player I really like,” he admitted, as reported by Sky Sports. “I saw him play for Manchester United and to not have signed him when he left that club was a mistake because he is an extraordinary player.”

Manchester City is certainly a club that, financially, can make anything happen. Given the attributes Pogba has, it’s understandable why Vieira holds the view that he does. Interestingly enough, he is endorsing a player many regard as his successor, but he notes a couple differences. “Many tell me that (he plays like I used to),” he added. “I think he is more attacking than me and perhaps more technically skilled.”

He’s a midfield all-rounder, then. Saying that, he would fit quite comfortably in Manuel Pellegrini’s two-man central midfield, currently occupied by new signing Fernandinhoand Yaya Toure. As he is keen to defend as well as contribute to the attack, he could play in either Fernandinho’s role, which is the holding role, or Toure’s role, which is more dynamic.

Defensively, he offers the degree of physicality needed in a holding midfielder. He isn’t one to shy away from a tackle, attempting an average of 2.5 per game last season and 3.3 so far this season. He needs to work on his composure here, though, as he can be a bit reckless at times. He is also strong in the air, winning 60% of his headed duels last season and 55% so far this season.

But it is on the ball where he shows his true quality. He has the ability and the confidence to side-step opponents in order to make space for himself, attempting an average of 3.7 take-on’s per game last season, completing an impressive 48% of them. So far this campaign, he is averaging an improved 4.1, but has completed a lower proportion of 47%.

After getting the space he needs, he shows he has an eye for a glorious pass and often looks for the killer one, be it long or short through opposition bodies along the ground. He attempted 18 through balls last season and saw different team-mates latch on to an impressive 44.4% of them. So far this season, he has seen two through balls make the right connection.

As for his long ball accuracy, having attempted an average of 4.4 per game last season, he completed a decent 78.3% of them. So far this season, he is attempting a lower average of 2.9 per game, completing 77.1% of them. Overall, he created 22 chances last season (an average of .8 per game). So far this season, he has already created 21 chances in just 13 appearances, which per game is almost twice the amount he averaged last term (1.5). Increased productivity here has seen him reap rewards, as he has two assists to his name this campaign, an obvious improvement on the zero he recorded last term.

The kind of vision and level of execution he has in his locker would complement the likes of Samir Nasri playing on either side of him on the flanks, as well as take some pressure off Stevan Jovetic, who is currently struggling to work his way into the side in a No.10 role due to injury and the fine strike partnership of Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo. The Spanish target man and Edin Dzeko, meanwhile, would relish latching onto his pinpoint long passes and slide rule through balls, as would the agile Aguero.

In addition to his ability to lay on passes for the strikers, Pogba likes to get forward to try and notch a few goals himself, netting five times in his debut season, a few of which were crackers from long range. Averaging close to two shots per game last season and 1.8 so far this campaign, it’s clear he fancies his chances from midfield, showing he certainly isn’t lacking in confidence. The placement of his shots could use some fine-tuning, though, which would lead to an increased goal output. Even so, after 13 games this season, he is already one goal shy of beating his tally from last season. And one of those goals was a real cracker too. Those strikes are quickly becoming a trademark of his.

Surely, with his skill set he would make a suitable addition to City’s central midfield–a central midfield that doesn’t have that much quality and fluidity beyond the aforementioned starters, Fernandinho and Toure. Jack Rodwell continues to struggle with injury, Gareth Barry is out of favour and subsequently out on loan, while Javi Garcia does his best work defensively and offers nothing going forward.

Pogba recently stated that he was happy at Juventus and wants to stay, thus ruling out a transfer–at least for for the time being. But, as Chiellini said, anything can happen.