Paul Pogba has officially reunited with Italian powerhouse Juventus after agreeing to a four-year contract. The French superstar returns to Turin, where he once helped capture four Serie A titles while winning the Coppa Italia twice.
The free transfer ended a tumultuous second stint with Manchester United after signing there in 2016 for what was, at the time, a record-setting fee of £89.3 million.
During his latest stay in Manchester, the midfielder would help United win the Europa League and EFL Cup in 2017. Unfortunately, these were the only two titles the club would win for the remainder of his time with the team. However, Pogba was instrumental during the 2018 World Cup when France captured the championship in Russia.
How will Pogba, reunited with former manager Massimiliano Allegri, fit with Juventus this time around? How will the loss of the French midfielder impact a sliding Manchester United? Let’s look at how the transfer impacts the betting futures for each club.
How Pogba Fits with Juventus
Pogba’s first Juve exit slowly turned one of the club’s hallmark strengths, the midfield, into a weakness.
Now in 2022, Pogba finds himself back where he posted the best seasons of his career. However, Juventus is no longer the European behemoth they once were, having been unable to move past the Champions League quarter-finals since 2017.
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Pogba is no longer surrounded by Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, and Arturo Vidal. Instead, the 29-year-old will look to turn Juventus around with USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie, Denis Zakaria, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, and Arthur Melo. A lateral move, at best, from his situation at Manchester United.
A change of scenery will likely be a significant positive all on its own in this situation. However, Pogba will need to perform consistently if Juventus wants to compete at the highest level. The former United midfielder is not coming to Turin as a missing piece but rather the centerpiece to turning the club around.
The turnaround could be even more difficult with the rumors circulating that defensive standout Matthijs de Ligt will soon depart to join Bayern Munich. That said, the transfer window is still open, and there is still plenty of time to add additional talent.
Juventus finished fourth in Serie A last season and will get Federico Chiesa back from injury to join Dusan Vlahovic and Pogba. However, the only way Juve will make a quick turnaround and compete this season, regardless of incoming transfers, is if Paul Pogba can turn back the clock and be a consistent superstar.
Manchester United after Pogba's Departure
Erik ten Hag will have his hands full as the new Red Devils manager. The departure of Pogba, and possibly Cristiano Ronaldo, follows a 2021-22 campaign that saw Manchester United post their lowest point total of the Premier League era.
The only additions to Old Trafford so far this offseason has been Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia, and Brentford’s Christian Eriksen. Unfortunately, neither of these moves would be a legitimate needle pusher considering the talent that has been lost.
Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, and Pogba departed for free at the end of their contracts, meaning Manchester United has been unable to raise funds for inbound transfers.
One particular transaction that could make or break United’s season is their pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong. However, if Ronaldo is granted an exit, Manchester will also need to secure a premier goal scorer if they want to compete. That task is easier said than done, especially as we get later in the transfer window.
Paul Pogba Juventus Bets
➕ Juventus: Serie A League Winner (+200) at BetMGM
Currently, there are limited futures available for Serie A soccer. The league winner odds come down to a three-horse race between Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus.
These are the only three teams in Italian football that you should consider placing a wager on, but there is not much value on a +200 futures bet for a semi-rebuilding club. That said, Juventus won nine consecutive Serie A titles before Inter Milan and AC Milan exchanged victories over the last two seasons.
Vlahovic and Pogba give The Old Lady a solid chance to reclaim their spot at the top of the Italian league, so they are a fair bet. However, the return of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan makes this a very close call.
If you feel comfortable calling Serie A a two-team battle, leaving out AC Milan, you could double down with wagers on both Inter Milan (+175) and Juventus to secure the championship. The only drawback would be cutting into an already thin profit margin, but the strategy would provide security.
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Manchester United Bets Without Paul Pogba
➕ Manchester United: Miss Top 4 in Premier League (-182) at PointsBet
It may get worse for Manchester United before it gets better, but they will still be a top-half team in the Premier League this season. However, they have no chance to contend for the title and have been lapped by their primary competition for a top-four finish.
Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham are poised to field improved rosters from a season ago, making a run at securing Champions League football in 2023-24 a tall order for United.
Right now, the best bet on the board is for Manchester to miss the top four in the Premier League at (-182), which seems like generous odds.
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