Paul Pogba may represent the best piece of business Juventus ever did. The balance sheet, after all, makes a compelling argument. He joined the Italian champions on a free transfer, age 19, from Manchester United, having let his contract wind down, frustrated at a shortage of match time. Four years later, Juve sold him to Manchester United, for well over €100 million (Dh422m).
That’s an astonishing profit, even in hyperinflationary times. Juventus was a good move for Pogba, too: four seasons there gave him four Italian league titles, as a far more significant contributor than he had been to United’s Premier League win of the period he was on their staff, looking on as a junior from the margins in 2011. He was still just a United "discovery" at that stage, scouted from Le Havre and deemed a fine future prospect by Alex Ferguson, who always had a sharp eye for a player.
It might be said that United are still discovering Pogba, all these years and tens of millions of investment later, still teasing out how best to unleash the dashing, swaggering champion within a 25 year old who won the last World Cup, who collected those gold medals with Juve, and who also galvanised United through the Europa League at the end of his first season back in Manchester.
Pogba will reach a minor landmark on Tuesday night at Old Trafford, the 100th game of his second spell with United, and he can be sure he will judged rigorously in the executive suites over who got the better deal from his last transfer, and by the managers of both teams.
His performance will inevitably be measured on the media's favourite gauge, the one that tracks Pogba’s relationship with Jose Mourinho, the United manager. The gauge dipped a little on Saturday, when the 1.90-metre Pogba failed in his marshalling duties while United defended a set-piece at Chelsea and conceded the first goal of a see-saw 2-2 draw in London. But Pogba then contributed significantly to United’s equaliser. Mourinho may not have discovered in that 90 minutes much more than he knew already about Pogba, except that, perhaps, that it is wise not always to pinpoint publicly his shortcomings with positional discipline when he can so quickly affect the attacking verve of the team.
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Read more:
Andy Mitten: Cristiano Ronaldo will get a good reception at Old Trafford, but will be a reminder of how far Manchester United have fallen since he left
In pictures: Cristiano Ronaldo trains with Juventus ahead of Manchester United return
Andy Mitten: Mata takes his chance as Manchester United make a point at Chelsea
Premier League team of the week: Mahrez and Martial in
_______________
For both manager and player, a period of rapprochement is due, after an August and September peppered with statements from both parties that revealed a combative, critical relationship, saw Pogba demoted from the United vice captaincy and stirred up speculation that the Frenchman wanted to move to Barcelona, or perhaps back to Juventus. There, the enthusiasm for such a sequel would be restrained, given the vast expenditure Juve committed in July to hiring Cristiano Ronaldo, another figure whose voyage of discovery included a major United chapter.
Besides, Juve sold Pogba because they believed that, with the mammoth United fee, they could replace him. Tuesday’s Champions League meeting, and the return fixture in Turin, will test how far they did. Back in the summer of 2016, a substantial chunk of the Pogba revenue went on signing Gonzalo Higuain, whose goals helped Juve through two tightly fought Serie A contests to a pair of league titles; Higuain, superseded by Ronaldo, is now on loan at AC Milan.
The midfield hole left by Pogba, who scored 34 goals in his 178 games for Juve, was filled initially by Miralem Pjanic, at €32m from Roma. The diminutive, unshowy Bosnian is a distinct sort of footballer from the tall, demonstrative Frenchman, but his influence is comparable: They can both pick out a long-range pass with uncanny precision. Pjanic is adaptable, too. He found himself operating in deeper positions in his early days with Juve, under Max Allegri, and mastered them.
A year later, Juve bought Blaise Matuidi, by then 30 years old, for an initial €21m from Paris Saint-Germain, earmarking the left side of a three-man midfield as the territory for his energetic running. That’s Pogba’s optimum position and an area Matuidi has had to cede from time to time in the colours of France, although not at the World Cup in Russia, where they thrived together in a midfield anchored by N’Golo Kante. Matuidi, a long-time international ally, may be the man who has least still to discover about his friend Pogba.
No club manager has worked in longer harmony with Pogba than Allegri. “I am happy to see how he has developed,” said the Juve manager of Pogba’s World Cup success. He will not have been unhappy to see Pogba among the United men flummoxed again by a set-piece against them at the weekend. With Pjanic’s delivery and the towering targets of Ronaldo, Giorgio Chiellini, Leo Bonucci and Mario Mandzukic, Juve have the tools to hurt a team still scarred by their tormented start to the season.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
The%20Specs%20
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPOPC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAmna%20Aijaz%2C%20Haroon%20Tahir%20and%20Arafat%20Ali%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eart%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20u%3C%2Fstrong%3Endisclosed%20amount%20raised%20through%20Waverider%20Entertainment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
The five pillars of Islam
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
