Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri revealed he did nothing to prevent Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United once being made aware of the transfer fee involved.
In a transfer which saw Pogba become the most expensive player in football history, the Frenchman rejoined his former club and went on to help Jose Mourinho’s side win the EFL Cup and Europa League.
Given the Frenchman’s importance to Allegri’s side, one would expect the Italian to fight tooth and nail for Pogba to remain in Turin but the Juventus manager claims that was not the case.
“I didn’t ask for [Gonzalo] Higuain, but I did give directions and I said it was necessary to improve,” Allegri told Sky Italia.
“Pogba or Paulo Dybala? Dybala’s game is easier on the eye, but Pogba is extraordinary because he has physicality and technique.
“I did nothing to keep Pogba, also because when the club told me the numbers…”
Meanwhile, in an interview with Esquire magazine, speaking movingly about the Manchester Arena attack and dealing with the atrocity as a Muslim living in the city.
The 24-year-old spent three years living in Manchester as a teenager before he returned to United.
Pogba condemned the Arena attack and opened up on his disbelief at the tragedy which occurred two days before United’s Europa League final with Ajax.
“It’s a very difficult moment but you cannot give up,” Pogba said. “We can’t let them get in our heads, we have to fight for it. Sad things happen in life but you cannot stop living.
“You cannot kill a human being. To kill a human being… it’s something crazy, so I don’t want to put religion on it. This is not Islam and everybody knows that. I won’t be the only one saying that.”
Read the full interview in Esquire’s July/August 2017 issue – on sale now.