Massimiliano Allegri: 'I did nothing to keep Paul Pogba'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 29 June 2017

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri reveals that he "did nothing" to convince Paul Pogba to stay at the club ahead of his world-record move to Manchester United.

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has revealed that he did not put up a fight to keep Paul Pogba at the club ahead of his world-record transfer to Manchester United.

Pogba rejoined United for £89m last summer following a hugely successful four-year stint in Turin, but Juventus went on to win a sixth consecutive Serie A title and reach the final of the Champions League in his absence.

Pogba is not the only big-name player to leave Juventus during Allegri's time there, with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal also departing, and the Italian revealed the differing approaches to the club's transfer policy in each of his three years at the helm.

"Tevez and Pirlo made a choice, Vidal was a market opportunity that Juventus decided to exploit, along with me. The year after was different. All three years were different, the first year we just had to grow in Europe without disturbing anything," he told Sky Italia.

"Then in the second year with 10 new players, the veterans didn't recognise the dressing room, it took time to start again in a different way. I didn't ask for [Gonzalo] Higuain, but I did give directions and I said it was necessary to improve.

"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..."

Pogba scored 34 goals in 178 appearances for Juventus, helping the club to four league titles and two domestic cups along the way.