Paul Pogba (Part1)

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15 Mar 2024

Paul Pogba (Part1)

Paul Labile Pogba, born on March 15, 1993, is a French professional footballer currently signed to Serie A club Juventus. However, he is currently serving a doping ban and is ineligible to play. Known for his versatility, Pogba primarily operates as a central midfielder but can also play as a left winger, attacking midfielder, and defensive midfielder.

Born in Lagny-sur-Marne, Pogba began his youth career with the Ligue 2 side Le Havre in 2007. After a protracted transfer saga, he joined Manchester United's youth team two years later. However, limited appearances with the senior team led him to depart for Italian side Juventus on a free transfer in 2012. At Juventus, Pogba played a pivotal role in the club's success, helping them secure four consecutive Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia titles, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. He also received individual accolades, winning the Golden Boy award in 2013 and the Bravo Award in 2014. In 2016, he was named to the UEFA Team of the Year and the FIFA FIFPro World XI after Juventus reached the Champions League final.

Pogba's impressive performances at Juventus earned him a return to Manchester United in 2016 for a then-world record transfer fee of €105 million (£89.3 million). In his first season back, he helped United win the League Cup and the Europa League. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2018–19 season.On the international stage, Pogba captained France to victory at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and was awarded the Best Player for his performances. He made his senior debut for the French national team a year later and played a key role in their journey to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he received the Best Young Player Award. Pogba continued to represent France, finishing as a runner-up at UEFA Euro 2016 before winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he scored in the final.

Paul Pogba's journey in football began with a significant transfer controversy. On July 31, 2009, he announced his departure from Le Havre to join Manchester United's youth academy in England. This move was surprising to his parent club, as they claimed to have a "non-solicitation agreement" with Pogba, which supposedly ran until the end of the 2009–2010 season. Le Havre criticized Manchester United and the Pogba family, accusing them of breaching the agreement. They also announced their intention to request FIFA to investigate the situation.

Manchester United responded by threatening to sue Le Havre, denying any wrongdoing, and refuting claims of offering financial incentives to Pogba and his family. Interestingly, Pogba's former club Torcy accused Le Havre of similar tactics when they acquired Pogba from Torcy's youth academy. Despite the controversy, FIFA-appointed judge cleared Manchester United of any wrongdoing on October 7, 2009. Eventually, an agreement was reached between Le Havre and Manchester United for Pogba's transfer in June 2010, although the terms remained confidential.

Upon joining Manchester United's academy, Pogba quickly made his mark. He debuted for the under-18 team on October 10, 2009, and finished the season with seven goals in 21 appearances. His performances earned him a call-up to the reserve team in November 2010, where he continued to impress with his skills and scoring ability.

In the 2011–2012 season, Pogba was promoted to the senior team by manager Alex Ferguson. He made his professional debut in the Football League Cup tie against Leeds United on September 20, 2011, and subsequently made appearances in the Premier League and UEFA Europa League. Pogba's talent and potential were evident as he showcased his abilities on various stages, including domestic and European competitions, during his time with Manchester United's senior team.

Paul Pogba's departure from Manchester United to Juventus was confirmed by manager Alex Ferguson on July 3, 2012. Ferguson revealed that Pogba had declined to sign a new contract with the club and had already agreed to join Juventus. Ferguson expressed disappointment at Pogba's decision, accusing him of showing disrespect to Manchester United.Juventus officially announced Pogba's signing after he underwent a medical examination on July 27, 2012. Pogba signed a four-year contract with the Italian club on August 3, 2012. He made his first appearance for Juventus in a pre-season friendly against Benfica on August 1, 2012, as a substitute.

Pogba's competitive debut for Juventus came in a Serie A match against Chievo on September 22, 2012, where he played the full 90 minutes. He made his UEFA Champions League debut in a match against Shakhtar Donetsk on October 2, 2012. Pogba scored his first goal for Juventus in a 2–0 victory over Napoli on October 20, 2012. He continued to impress with his performances, including scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Bologna on October 31, 2012.However, Pogba's time at Juventus was not without controversy. On May 5, 2013, during a crucial match that clinched the Serie A title for Juventus, Pogba was sent off for spitting at an opponent after being slapped in the face. This incident marred an otherwise successful season for Pogba and Juventus.

On August 18, 2013, Paul Pogba played a crucial role in Juventus' 4–0 victory over Lazio, a match that secured Juventus the 2013 Italian Supercoppa. Coming on as a substitute for Claudio Marchisio, Pogba scored the opening goal of the game and was named the Man of the Match for his performance.Pogba was honored with the Golden Boy award, recognizing him as the best young player in Europe for that year. This accolade further highlighted his rapid rise and immense talent.

By January 2014, Pogba's reputation continued to grow, with The Guardian naming him as one of the ten most promising young players in Europe. His impact in European competitions was evident when he scored his first goal in UEFA club competitions on February 20, 2014, as Juventus defeated Trabzonspor 2–0 in the first leg of the round of 32 of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.Throughout the season, Pogba consistently demonstrated his ability to influence matches. He provided an assist in Juventus' 2–0 victory over Udinese in April 2014 and scored the winning goal in their 1–0 triumph against Bologna. Pogba's performances earned him the Man of the Match award in the latter game.

Pogba emerged as a pivotal player for Juventus during the season, breaking into the starting lineup and making a total of 51 appearances across all competitions, the most of any Juventus player that season. He also contributed nine goals to Juventus' cause. Under manager Antonio Conte, Juventus clinched their second consecutive Serie A title and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, with Pogba playing a significant role in their success.