This week in which-big-name-player-is-moving-to-the-Saudi-Pro-League? bingo, sees France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba’s name thrown into the hat, with a reported three-year $110m deal on offer from current league champions Al-Ittihad.
Pogba to Saudi certainly feels right. After returning to Juve from Manchester United, the World Cup winner has endured a torrid year with injuries, making just six Serie A appearances as the club limped to a seventh-placed finish amidst allegations of financial scandal within the club.
By joining Al–Ittihad, Pogba would also be ensuring a reunion with former French national side teammates Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, the two players already having made free transfer moves from Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively to the Jeddah-based club. And if you’re really looking to read something into all this, the midfielder also just posted a picture and video of himself at Mecca on Instagram, with the caption: “AL HAMDULLILAH”
Whether this is more talk fuelled by social media remains to be seen, but reports on Sky Sports Italia claimed that Pogba visited Al-Ittihad’s training facilities on a recent trip to Saudi. A TikTok video of Pogba being quizzed on a move also went viral leading to more intense speculation.
Fact is that Juventus need players like Pogba off the wage bill, while his high profile suits the Saudi dealmakers at PIF and their first phase blueprint to recruit big-name players over 30. Pogba himself could seemingly do with something of a new challenge. After six seasons in England, his move back to Italy was meant to be that of a returning hero. Unfortunately injury and a touch of scandal has meant that his career has somewhat stalled in Turin.
And if there really is a deal on the table, the Frenchman certainly isn’t really trying to hide it. Pogba allegedly told an influencer, “I don’t know if you will be able to see me in the Saudi League. Not today… we don’t know tomorrow. Al-Ittihad or Al-Ahly? We don’t know, we’ll see.”