Andrea Pirlo has confessed that ‘it wouldn’t surprise me’ if Paul Pogba returned to Juventus from Manchester United.
Pogba played alongside Pirlo for Juve between 2012 and 2015, the pair winning three Scudetti in that time, before the Frenchman moved back to Manchester United for a then-world record €110m.
“Juventus are a great club with history,” the former Italy midfielder told Tuttosport.
“From the start, I understood that their board had an ambitious project in mind. They’d just built the new stadium so they could get back to winning in Italy and Europe.
“If you experience it from inside, like I did for the first four years, you wouldn’t be amazed by the path they’ve taken and their successes.
“When you win, it makes you feel good and you want to keep it up. Juventus have been good at always wanting to improve in recent years.
“At first I thought it was just one of the many summer rumours, but then [Fabio] Paratici called me and told me: ‘It’s all true, we’re negotiating.’
“I thanked him, Marotta and President Agnelli, but I don’t feel any nostalgia. In my career I was already lucky enough to share the dressing room with so many stars.
“I don’t know if Cristiano likes to play as a lone striker. He likes to start on the left, so he needs someone to play near him: Mandzukic is ideal.
“Bonucci coming back surprised me because I didn’t think he would after only a season with Milan.
“However, Juventus only want the best and Leonardo is a top player in his position. Pogba? It wouldn’t surprise me because Juventus are looking for the best and if someone leaves, it’s not said that they can’t return.”