Real Madrid Transfer News: Paul Pogba Deals Blow to Carlo Ancelotti's Plans
Carlo Ancelotti's plans to add some power to a Real Madrid midfield overloaded with playmakers may have to wait after Paul Pogba has reportedly turned down a move to the Spanish capital.
Website Football-Italia.net carried quotes from Pogba given after current club Juventus beat Lazio 3-0 in Serie A: "I am happy at Juventus and hope to stay for a long time. This was my best game of the season and I hope to continue like this. I just want to learn and improve so that I can become the best one day."
Pogba was on the scoresheet twice in Rome, evidence of his growing stature since leaving the Premier League for Turin in 2012. Mail Online reporter Nicholas Gooden described how Pogba dominated Lazio:
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"Paul Pogba enhanced his growing reputation as one of Europe's best young players by scoring a classy double against Lazio as Juventus maintained their three-point cushion at the top of Serie A.
The former Manchester United midfielder gave the visitors the lead after 24 minutes as he finished off a brilliant counter-attack involving another former United player Carlos Tevez.
Star of the show Pogba, who impressed throughout, completed the victory with another smart finish past Federico Marchetti in the Lazio goal.
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This kind of performance is fast becoming the norm for Pogba. The 21-year-old Frenchman combines strength, creativity and drive in a way most midfielders can only dream of.
It's that blend of talents that is likely attracting interest from Los Blancos. There's also the fact that Ancelotti's current midfield group doesn't possess a player like Pogba.
Most notably, Los Merengues are short of brute force in the middle, where Ancelotti has been trusting diminutive pass-masters Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. That slight pairing certainly haven't harmed Madrid this season.
Los Blancos sit top in La Liga and are currently irrepressible in the UEFA Champions League, a tournament Ancelotti's men won last season. But it wouldn't be unfair to argue that the Madrid midfield does lack a little balance.
Asier Illarramendi is a player who offers some strength. But the ex-Real Sociedad man has rarely been used so far during this campaign.
He's made just one start in both La Liga and the Champions League, while otherwise being restricted to a handful of substitute appearances, per WhoScored.com.
Ancelotti may not entirely trust Illarramendi, but he'll also know he can't rely on Sami Khedira for too long. The Germany international is the closest thing Madrid have to a powerhouse in the middle.
However, he is set to leave this summer once his contract expires. The 27-year-old could even leave in January, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich all keen, per Mail Online reporter Rob Shepherd:
"Chelsea and Arsenal will still try and lure Sami Khedira from Real Madrid in January but both clubs face losing out to Bayern Munich.
Luka Modric’s medium-term injury means Khedira may stay at Madrid for the remainder of the season before leaving next summer when his contract expires.
Both the Blues and the Gunners were willing to pay a fee of around £7million to lure the German international before he became a free agent when the mid-term window opens.
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That's a situation that surely has a player of Pogba's stature firmly on Ancelotti's radar. The Italian coach apparently views Pogba as the perfect Khedira replacement, per Spanish radio station Cadena Ser (h/t CaughtOffside.com writer Patrick Williamson).
But this isn't the first time Pogba has resisted the notion of a move away from Turin to Madrid. Earlier this month, he refuted the idea during an interview with French publication L'Equipe (h/t Sky Sports reporter Patrick Haond): "I don't think about all that. I am only thinking about the pitch and achieving good things. I don't know anything about what happens behind the scenes."
Given how well the Frenchman is developing in Italy, as well as his importance at Juve, even Real Madrid will find it hard to pry him away.
The Old Lady knows that distinguished schemer Andrea Pirlo is in the twilight of his career. Meanwhile, brilliant goal-getter Claudio Marchisio has had his injury problems, while Arturo Vidal is regularly linked with a move away.
Pogba represents present success for Juve, as well as an even brighter future. That means Ancelotti will have to look elsewhere to solidify his team's midfield.
