France international snubs Premier League return
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has hinted that he would like to move to Barcelona one day, but insists he is happy in Italy.
The France international joined the Bianconeri, having been allowed to leave Manchester United as a 19-year-old, and has since attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
One of them was Barcelona, and after being named in the FIFPro XI of 2015, Pogba admitted he would like to one day be alongside Lionel Messi on the pitch, not just at award ceremonies.
“He’s (Messi) a fantastic player, and as with all great players, I’d like to play with him,” Pogba admitted.
Manchester City and Chelsea are keen to tempt the 22-year-old back to the Premier League, but it seems they will have to find a back up plan if Pogba gets his dream move to La Liga.
Pogba honoured by award
“It’s an honour to be compared to such big stars,” the midfielder said at the Ballon d’Or awards in Zurich.
“I’m at Juventus, and I’m happy. The biggest goal is to win the Ballon d’Or one day, and being in the XI is an honour for me.
“I’ll work to at least be among the three finalists for the Ballon d’Or, but there are many great players ahead of me and I’m a midfielder, not a striker.”
Pogba admitted that it has been great to fulfil his ambitions to play alongside the stars he used to look up to.
“Neymar? He’s a great striker, a great player. He had a great year. I was watching these guys [Neymar, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo] on TV, I played as them on the Playstation, now I’m alongside them.” Pogba said.
“My goal is not just to be next to them, it’s to play on the same level or exceed them, that’s the goal.”
Pogba has found his feet at Juventus, having failed to establish himself in the United starting XI and now faces the prospect of potentially playing behind arguably the world’s most menacing attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
