Reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has said that Paul Pogba has no intention of buying out his contract in order to leave Manchester United on a free transfer.
A recent report from L’Equipe h/t Sport Witness suggested that the Frenchman could find a way out of his contract by taking advantage of Article 17 of the FIFA transfer regulations.
Pogba will have completed his third year with the Red Devils by the summer and L’Equipe claimed that he could thereafter terminate his deal for a fee of around €50-60m.
However, in a Q&A session on Calciomercato, Romano has ruled out the possibility of that happening and insists Juventus can only negotiate a move for the midfielder through the United board.
“No, there is no such intention. Whoever wants Pogba will have to go to negotiate with Manchester United, who can activate the clause to renew until 2022 at any time. Juve know it, but they will be ready if he’s on the list of disposals,” he told.
Pogba’s current contract is due to expire at the end of the next season but United will definitely trigger the optional extension clause to prolong his stay until the summer of 2022.
Meanwhile, there has been no progress with regards to a new long-term deal over the past year and it has come to the point where the board may need to make a decision on the midfielder’s future.
The club can, of course, keep hold of Pogba for another campaign with the view to convincing him to sign a new contract, but the failure to do so could reduce the transfer value of the midfielder.
At present, United are said to value the 2018 World Cup winner at £100m but there are doubts whether any side would meet the valuation amid the global crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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