16th January, 2015
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has indicated the future of star midfielder Paul Pogba could lie elsewhere, as the champions look to tighten their grip on Serie A with another home game against Verona on Sunday.
Pogba has become an integral part of Juve’s midfield since joining the Italian giants in 2012 on a free transfer from Manchester United.
However the 21-year-old Frenchman has risen to global prominence and an elite handful of clubs with riches Juventus can only dream of are waiting in the wings hopeful of securing his signature.
United, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain were put on red alert in midweek when Allegri told reporters: “Regarding Pogba, we have to live in the present. We don’t know what will happen in June.
“A lot of clubs are looking at him, but that’s normal. He’s young, strong and has yet to reach his full potential as a player.”
Juventus host Verona for the second time this week on Sunday — four days after a 6-1 drubbing of the Gialloblu in the last 16 Cup win in Turin — looking to retain their three-point lead on Roma.
Allegri hedged his bets, rested strike pair Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente for the last 16 tie and his choice was vindicated as striker Sebastian Giovinco hit a brace and Pogba another in the one-sided display.
Roma’s title credentials, meanwhile face scrutiny in a potentially treacherous trip away to Palermo less than a week after Francesco Totti saved their blushes with a brace to snatch a point from a 2-2 draw with city rivals Lazio.
Totti is likely to miss the trip to Sicily because of flu symptoms and Palermo, who were unbeaten since October before last week’s 4-3 defeat away to Fiorentina, will be no pushover.