It’s time for Real Madrid to back off its Paul Pogba pursuit
By Ben Sundock
World Cup winning midfielder Paul Pogba is determined to leave Manchester United this summer, however, with his sights set on a move to Real Madrid, the Spanish club should not splash the cash for the 26-year-old no matter how good he is.
Spending €180 million on a controversial, at times egotistical, midfielder with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Isco already on the team seems a bit extreme. Manager Zinedine Zidane has made it rather clear that he would love to have the French international in his team, but does the price justify the signing?
To make matters worse – in my eyes – Los Blancos will likely have to sacrifice at least two big name players like Isco or Gareth Bale, to even consider being able to sign Pogba.
James Rodriguez is also listed as part of the package to possibly give president Florentino Perez enough to make a run at the midfielder, but still, I don’t think he is worth the large price tag. My reasoning is not simply that I think Pogba is not a good guy, but I have more faith in Real Madrid’s current midfield situation.
Marco Asensio and Casemiro are two players that I failed to mention before, but there are more than enough quality players within the squad now with only three spots to fill.
Before the arrival of Kroos, yes, going for Paul Pogba would have been a welcome move. Now, the middle of the park looks very nice and should be solid for the next three years at least.
Pogba has had a rocky relationship with Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and with many United fans this past season. Paul’s 13 goals and nine assists in 35 Premier League matches plus an average match rating of just over seven was very impressive, but a move to Juventus seems more likely for the French player.
Spending €130 million on Eden Hazard seems justified after Real Madrid failed to adequately replace Cristiano Ronaldo after his departure last summer. Spending more than that on a player who is frequently criticized for his behavior and off-field antics seems unnecessary and excessive.
Next. Around the Bernabeu: Pre-season looms as exits continue at Real Madrid. dark
Yes, if Real needed a star midfielder to slot into a starting role right away, Paul Pogba would be a top candidate. That is not the case, therefore the club should not be shelling out this kind of cash for him.