In an interview with the French newspaper Views, midfielder Paul Pogba recounted his stints moving from Manchester United to Juventus, and how he overcame a nightmare season plagued by injuries.
"When I first left Manchester, I was young. And when you're young, you want to prove something," Pogba said. "I went to Juventus and it was a big challenge. But immediately I felt the love of the fans and the club. I really liked the way they worked and learned a lot. I returned to Manchester because I hadn't finished my job there. I wanted to play for the first team and I achieved that goal. We didn't win the Premier League, but we won many trophies that the club hadn't won in a long time."
Pogba celebrates winning the Europa League with Man Utd in 2017. He is pleased with the success he has achieved since returning to the "Red Devils" after a period at Juventus where he developed his skills. Photo: Reuters
Born in 1993, Pogba is considered a talent of his generation. At the age of 16, he joined the Manchester United academy from Le Havre and began to make a name for himself when he played in both legs of the 2011 final against Sheffield United, helping Man Utd win their tenth Youth Cup – a tournament organized by the English Football Association (FA) for players under 18. The following season, Pogba made his first-team debut under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in a 3-0 victory away at Leeds United in the English League Cup.
However, unable to secure a place at Old Trafford, Pogba left on a free transfer to Juventus in the summer of 2012. In fact, the Italian club paid Manchester United nearly $2.5 million in training fees. During his four years in Turin, Pogba progressed remarkably, scoring 28 goals in 124 matches, helping Juventus win four Serie A titles, two Italian Cups, two Italian Super Cups, and finish as runners-up in the 2015 Champions League. At Euro 2016, Pogba and the French national team reached the final on home soil, losing 0-1 to Portugal.
In 2016, Man Utd spent a record $131 million to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford, breaking the $111 million record that Real Madrid paid Tottenham in 2013 for Gareth Bale. Over the past six years, the French midfielder has scored 39 goals and provided 51 assists, winning the FA Community Shield, the League Cup, and the Europa League in the 2016-2017 season under Jose Mourinho.
But in the final stages, his relationship with the club became strained. In the summer of 2022, Pogba left Man Utd to return to Juventus on a free transfer. He only received $8.5 million in salary per season at Juventus, less than half of what he earned at Old Trafford.
Pogba said he didn't receive the same support from Manchester United fans as he did at Juventus, and returned to Turin to rediscover his love for football. "Why did I return to Juventus? Because it's the club that helps me push myself," the 30-year-old midfielder stated. "And I received love from the fans and the club, something I didn't get in Manchester. I was quite surprised when I returned to England, right after the transfer, I was labeled negatively. That was quite upsetting."
However, Pogba affirmed his love for both Man Utd and Juventus, as these two clubs helped him grow. "I could have gone to other clubs, but my heart chose Man Utd and Juventus. And usually I follow what my heart tells me," he said.
Returning to Juventus with high expectations, Pogba actually experienced the worst season of his career. He suffered a right knee meniscus injury during pre-season, requiring surgery, missing the 2022 World Cup, and only returning in February 2023. After a few appearances from the bench, the French midfielder suffered a muscle injury in training and was sidelined for a month. In May, Pogba ended the season early due to a hamstring problem. In total, he only had one assist in 10 games across all competitions, with 161 minutes on the pitch.
Pogba lies on the ground after a tackle in last season's Europa League. Photo: AFP
"Last season was probably the most difficult of my career; I felt like I aged 10 years in the last seven months," Pogba added. According to the 30-year-old midfielder, mental issues were the main reason for his recurring injuries, but he sees these as phases and tests for significant personal growth, learning many things about life and what is important.
When asked about the criticism regarding his flamboyant style, partying, and focus on appearance with new hairstyles, Pogba replied: "I think more about the positive criticism, because there will always be negative criticism. I became a professional player because of my own playing style, and that football is what brought me to where I am today. I think more about the people who are happy and enjoy watching me play, than the people who criticize me. I know when I'm playing well, and when I'm not playing well. The enjoyment always comes from me, and that's why I play football. That's also why, I think, people come to watch the matches."
Hong Duy
Source link
Comment (0)