Real Madrid: Pogba urged to move in latest France Football
Paul Pogba is the cover star of the latest issue of France Football, which tells the Manchester United midfielder: "Time to move on".
The week has begun with the latest instalment in the Paul Pogba-to-Real Madrid transfer saga. In a preview of its next issue - which is out on Tuesday - the magazine France Football has revealed that its front cover is devoted to the Manchester United and France star, with the headline: "Pogba: the Real way forward".
"Pogba should leave Manchester United"
"Paul Pogba, time to move on," reads the summary of the publication's forthcoming release. "A simple observation: yes, Pogba should leave Manchester United. With Real Madrid linked more heavily than ever with the Red Devils' midfielder, France Football tells you why..."
Pogba and Hazard are Madrid's chief summer targets
As was revealed by AS earlier this month, the 26-year-old World Cup winner is, together with Chelsea and Belgium's Eden Hazard, a priority summer target for Madrid as Los Blancos' head coach, Zinedine Zidane, prepares to revamp his squad.
Pogba a fan of Zidane - and the feeling's mutual
Pogba re-emerged as a potential Madrid signing in the wake of Zidane's March return to the Bernabéu. Days after his compatriot's re-appointment, the player raised eyebrows by offering a nod to the LaLiga giants while on France duty, stating that, although he is "happy" at United, "Madrid is a dream for anyone. It's one of the biggest clubs in the world. There is also Zidane as coach."
Zidane picked up the baton soon after, telling reporters: "I like Pogba a lot, it's nothing new. I know him personally. He's a different kind of player, he brings so much and there are few who bring as much as he does. He's a midfielder who knows how to defend and how to attack. He knows how to do everything on the pitch.
"He's not part of my squad, he plays at United, and [about] what he's said about Madrid and his desire to come here: [...] if when he finishes his experience at United he wants to come here, why shouldn't he come to Madrid?"
Real Madrid missed out on Pogba three years ago
Having unsuccessfully pursued him in 2016, this would be the second time Madrid have tried to secure Pogba's signature. On that occasion, club president Florentino Pérez's poor relationship with the then-Juventus midfielder's agent, Mino Raiola, scotched the possibility of a deal, and the player finally rejoined United.