Former Bianconeri coach is right concerning the benefits of the Frenchman’s sale, but overly optimistic about the club’s ability to recover from it.
Seventy-three minutes gone at the Juventus Stadium and Paul Pogba produces a sublime piece of skill to control the ball mid-air and unleash a volley that, although parried and swept home by Stephan Lichtsteiner, put another three points beyond doubt.
A moment of individual brilliance that Bianconeri legend Zinedine Zidane would be proud of, as well as reignited former Juventus coach Marcello Lippi’s argument that they should cash in on his fellow countryman as the club had done with Zidane in 2001.
“It would be a huge sacrifice, but would be such a huge amount of money they could buy three or four other players and still guarantee continuity,” Lippi told Sky Sport Italia.
“We constructed a team which continued to win things and Juve could do that with the money from Pogba.”
However, whilst similarities exist, 14 years on the situation is somewhat different in Turin. Juventus, at the time, was approaching a fourth consecutive season without a Scudetto, which in today’s is the polar opposite.
The near €200m spent on Gianliugi Buffon, Lilian Thuram and Pavel Nedved ultimately turned the sides fortunes around; yet they were three immensely talented and sought-after individuals.
Crucially the European landscape has changed massively, and causes significant concern that the Bianconeri could adequately rebuild in the wake of Pogba’s exit.
Despite a financial advantage over Italian rivals Juventus no longer compete with a host of super-rich clubs across Europe, and quite possibly even some mid-ranking Premier League sides backed by television billions.
Could the Old Lady expect to entice an out-of-contract Toni Kroos to Turin amid interest from Manchester United just as Nedved snubbed the English side in 2001?
The answer, unfortunately, is probably “no.” It means any decision to sell the 21-year-old becomes ever more complex, especially with future success hinging on those left behind: an ageing Andrea Pirlo and an injury troubled Arturo Vidal.
Zidane departed to Real Madrid approaching 30, as a World and European champion and by some way the best player in the world. In todays market, his signing would easily smash the €100 million mark set by Gareth Bale.
Therefore, Juventus will value Pogba equally as highly and will thus realistically expect a similar return if not more; but bringing in at least three major players will be difficult.
Not a single Serie A club was involved in any of the 10 most expensive transfers last summer. Roma’s signing of Juan Iturbe was the only transaction within the top 25.
In 2001, 13 out of 20 of the most expensive players in the world moved to (or between) Italian clubs.
The Bianconeri will have to be equally as adept at finding the right players to progress and cannot afford a failure like they did with €30 million misfit Marcelo Salas in 2001.
That was countered by David Trezeguet of course, finally excelling in Turin 12 months after signing from Monaco — see Alvaro Morata for the 2015 edition.
Fans will no doubt want to retain the 21-year-old, build around him, or hope to discover the gift of eternal youth; but standing still in football means going backward and the money his sale would bring could prove vital.
The aging Juventus defence needs refreshing — Martin Caceres and Angelo Ogbonna are not long-term solutions — and so will the goalkeeper department, as well as practically the whole of midfield, and finally a replacement for Carlos Tevez who will likely leave in 2016.
Morata and fellow youngster Roberto Pereyra represent a good start for the essential rebuilding process, but finding established stars to fill the impending Pogba void could be impossible, but would certainly be more conceivable with the sum recouped from the Frenchman’s sale.
That scenario makes it clear that Juventus cannot take the risk of retaining Pogba for much longer, while continuing domestic dominance and having realistic hopes of similar supremacy in Europe. His sale, on the other hand, could fulfill such ambitions.
However the bigger challenge for Juventus after Pogba’s sale will be how they entice players of the relevant quality to Turin once in order to realise those aspirations which, as previously mentioned, I fear are implausible.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
