Why Paul Pogba Would Be Wise to Stay at Juventus Next Season

The transfer window is not yet open and the frenzy surrounding Paul Pogba's future has already become this summer's most tedious storyline. 

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Front page of @lequipe says Angel di Maria and Paul Pogba will be PSG's top transfer targets this summer. pic.twitter.com/iCwcwNRU8k

— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 31, 2015"

Despite the fact that Juventus don't really need to sell—and the fact that the player seems happy in Turin—Europe's elite clubs are being linked with the midfielder in the typical "he's good, they're rich" logic that unfortunately drives the lion's share of transfer gossip. 

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Barcelona have thrown their hat into the ring for Paul Pogba's signature! Transfer Talk -> http://t.co/2eTMOKK1c3

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 2, 2015"

Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, is fond of moving his players around but right now, a big-money transfer for the young Frenchman would suit neither the player nor his club.

He's arguably been Juve's most influential player this season—even more so than Serie A's current capocannoniere Carlos Tevez—and he seems to get better by the game. With so much for the Bianconeri still to achieve in Europe, letting go of a talent like that would make no sense regardless of the compensation. 

And from Pogba's perspective, it makes more sense to stick rather than twist—for now at least. Juventus might not still be at the level of the continent's biggest clubs, but they're incredibly close to it and currently he's the centrepiece player in an ambitious project at one of the world's most historic sides.

A move to Spain, Germany or England might make him more than the €4.5 million he's currently on, but there's nowhere else where he'll find himself more central or more valued. If he wants to build the foundations of a legacy and stake a claim to being one of the world's best, Turin is the best place to be.  

One of his illustrious compatriots, a man who was sold by Juve for a record sum in 2001, thinks that the interest in Pogba's future is normal, given his talent. Speaking to reporters, Zinedine Zidane said (as reported in English by the Express' David Wright): 

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Considering his age and potential I certainly think he has plenty of room for improvement.

When we are talking about a player like Pogba it’s only logical that Real Madrid and other big clubs are interested. It’s logical isn’t it? He’s young, strong and can only get better.

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The comparison between Pogba and Zidane has been a popular one for pundits and fans to make. And it's understandable. He's incredibly talented, French, the brightest light in a squad of stars at Juve—and he's lusted after by football's elite. There's an important distinction to be made, however, which is the fact that Zizou made his Galactico move much later in his career.

Zidane turned 29 the summer he moved from Turin to Madrid. Pogba is still just 22. Florentino Perez paid the world-record fee of 150 billion Italian lire for a footballer who'd already been named FIFA World Player of the year, won the Ballon d'Or, lifted the World Cup in 1998 and played in two Champions League finals.

Pogba is a fine player, but he's still nowhere near the level that Zidane hit in his pomp, so rather than focussing on a move now he should be committed to polishing his astonishing talent and fulfilling 100 per cent of his enormous potential. 

Once that happens and he's won everything he can with the Old Lady, a record-breaking move to one of Europe's mega-wealthy clubs will be to the advantage of all parties, but not before. All that glitters isn't gold, after all, and in recent seasons there have been plenty of examples of excellent players gone awry after switching clubs in supposedly favourable deals.

Pogba is already incredibly wealthy but at this point in his career, money is somewhat irrelevant. There's no point taking a risk with something that could destabilise his development. He shouldn't forget that it's his market. When he's ready to move, there'll be no shortage of open doors.

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