Manchester United’s teenage midfielder Paul Pogba has agreed to join Juventus after repeatedly turning down new deals to keep him at Old Trafford.
Italian giants Juve had been tracking the Frenchmen since it was clear that his first-team opportunities would continue to be limited. And once they had offered the teenager a package worth £20,000 a week, a deal in which the player’s agent Mino Raiola would scoop £1.7 million, the move became a fait accompli.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had been unwilling to enter into a protracted negotiation with a player he thought of as a long-term prospect and not a first-team contender. Although he has gone on record to praise Pogba’s athleticism and precocious talent, it is known that he had reservations about his commitment to the club.
Before Christmas, Ferguson warned the player about his chances at United when he engaged Raiola to negotiate on his behalf during contract discussions. As Ravel Morrison’s departure to West Ham proved, Ferguson has minimal patience for youngsters whose demands exceed their achievements.
Pogba has been a controversial figure ever since his initial move to Old Trafford from the famed youth academy at French club Le Havre, which has also produced the likes of Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Lassana Diarra. United were accused – and later cleared by FIFA – of poaching the player.
At Juventus, he will join another Le Havre product Prince-Desir Gouano, an 18-year-old defender who signed for £1.3 million in the summer.
