Man Utd braced for £120m transfer offer from Juventus for Paul Pogba with Real Madrid still keen
Sponsored by
MANCHESTER UNITED are braced for a £120million transfer offer from Juventus for Paul Pogba, according to reports.
The 26-year-old flew out to Australia for the Red Devils pre-season tour this morning with his future at the club uncertain after he made it clear he wants to leave.
The World Cup winner joined his team-mates at the airport after he was ordered by Old Trafford chiefs to travel for their money-spinning exhibition matches on the other side of the world.
However, Juventus are set to test United's resolve by making a £120m bid for their former star, according to .
The Serie A champions are desperate to reacquire the Frenchman in an attempt to win the Champions League and boost commercial revenue.
It is understood that United are determined to fend off bids for Pogba with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer viewing him as a key part of their rebuilding.
MAN UTD SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA (in full):
GOALKEEPERS: David De Gea, Joel Pereira, Sergio Romero
DEFENDERS: Eric Bailly, Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling, Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ashley Young
MIDFIELDERS: Tahith Chong, James Garner, Angel Gomes, Daniel James, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba
FORWARDS: Mason Greenwood, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford
However his agent Mino Raiola is working so hard to get him out that the Red Devils were fearful their £89million star would not turn up for their pre-season tour.
Solskjaer had given Pogba extra time off after international duty but the midfielder was included in the club's travelling squad.
Pogba was not required to report back last week with the rest of the Norwegian's side - and was instead seen working out at a New York gym, meaning his flight to Australia has seen him cross 12 time zones and fly 12,500 miles in four days.
Raiola chucked a huge spanner in the works on Friday by publicly admitting that the midfielder wants out — with suspicions that the statement was timed to fuel doubts over whether Pog would go to Oz for games against Perth Glory and Leeds.
MORE MAN UTD STORIES
United also play in Singapore and China — where the ex-Juventus star is a huge, household name - and has already enjoyed a promotional tour with Adidas this summer.
Pogba admitted last month that it “could be a good time to have a new challenge” as talk of a transfer to Real Madrid or Juventus ramps up.
For now, United are sticking to their guns over his £290,000-a-week deal still having two years left — plus a 12-month club option.