Paul Pogba revealed he had "thought a lot" about returning to Juventus after sealing his Serie A comeback, as he blamed his Manchester United struggles on multiple factors.
Having left United following the end of his contract in
June, Pogba sealed a return to Juventus on Monday, six years after departing
the Turin giants to head to Old Trafford in a then-world record £89million
(€105m) deal.
The 2018 World Cup winner won four consecutive Serie A
titles in his first spell with the Bianconeri, scoring 34 goals in 178
appearances for the club.
Despite lifting the EFL Cup and Europa League trophies in
the 2016-17 season, Pogba largely struggled to live up to his lofty price tag
with United.
His presence could not prevent the Red Devils from failing
to win any silverware in the five years that followed his first campaign back
in England.
While Pogba confessed a Serie A return had been in his
thoughts for some time, the France star insisted he did not regret his Premier
League move and felt he had grown as a player at United.
"I am happy to go home, this is how I feel here,"
Pogba said at his unveiling on Tuesday.
"You have all seen the welcome of the people, but this
is something more than a dream. I am very, very happy.
"The messages from the Juventus fans have always
pleased me, even though I was focused on doing well at United.
"Last season, there was only one year left [on my
contract], I thought a lot about my return, and here I am. Now I am happy.
"I believe in destiny, I'm happy with the choices I've
made in my life. Life is like this, sometimes you make choices that don't go
your way, but I'm happy with the years in Manchester.
"I grew up, I learned, I became a man. I wasn't wrong.
God wanted this, and I'm just very happy to be here at Juventus today.
"My heart told me that Juve was my destination. I felt
inside that this was where I wanted to return, and I made my decision."
Paul Pogba played 226 games for Manchester United in his second spell at the club |
Pogba played under Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick during his troubled spell in Manchester, and the midfielder believes the absence of continuity at United held him back.
"Changing coach every year is hard - this was a
difficult aspect for me," he added.
"Then there were a few injuries, but I think it was
also a mental thing; playing and not playing makes you lose the pace.
"There is a bit of everything; coach, team, position -.
all this has blocked me a bit.
"Now, however, I have left, and you will see another
Paul. I can do better than I have in recent years."
Pogba says the presence of Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri,
who oversaw two of his four Scudetto triumphs, was a big factor in his decision
to return.
"Even in Manchester I often talked to him, we have
always had a great relationship and even before coming here I talked to
him," Pogba revealed.
"I spent many beautiful years with him, coming back
here today means doing it at the right time and with the right person."
Juventus begin their bid for a first Serie A title since
2020 when they host Sassuolo on August 15, after taking part in high-profile
friendlies against Barcelona and Real Madrid.
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