Juventus legend Emerson became the latest to warn Paul Pogba against leaving the club for the likes of Real Madrid or Manchester United, citing his own transfer flop as a prime example of what can happen.

Speaking to Tuttosport (h/t Goal’s Stefan Coerts), Emerson explained why he believes the France international would be better off staying in Turin:

Pogba should not make the same mistake that I made.

You have to start all over again when you join a new team. Pogba has a special status at Juventus and has a phenomenon like Andrea Pirlo at his side. I would think twice before making the decision to leave Juventus for Madrid.

The Daily Star‘s Jamie Anderson interpreted the Brazilian’s words as a plea to spurn Los Blancos for a Premier League side, but Emerson only touched on the example of Real to illustrate why he believes Pogba should stay put.

JuveFC.com’s David Tenenbaum relayed what the message was all about:

Emerson was a star for the Bianconeri and left the club for the Spanish capital in 2006, only to flop for Real Madrid. He returned to Italy after just one season, signing for AC Milan, but his play never approached its previous heights.

Pogba is widely regarded as one of the best young midfielders in all of football, and the 21-year-old is expected to be the subject of several bids at the end of the season.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Johnson believes he could one day become the most expensive player on the planet, and that day may not be far off:

Juventus are understandably keen to hold onto their ace midfielder for as long as possible, but with Serie A no longer a prime destination for the top talents in football, it seems only a matter of time before Pogba leaves for a top league.

Pogba’s former club Manchester United will likely be in the mix once the Pogba sweepstakes begins, having the necessary financial power to complete such a massive transfer and a clear need for a physical midfielder.

Emerson’s transfer came at a time when Serie A was still regarded as a top league—AC Milan won the Champions League in the 2006-07 season, while rivals Inter Milan emerged victorious in 2009-10—but the situation has changed in 2015.

Juventus sit a step below the likes of Real and United in the international pecking order, unable to match the giants of football in terms of wages and exposure. It would be fantastic for Serie A if Pogba stayed with the Bianconeri just a little longer, but don’t expect the Frenchman to stay in Turin for the next decade.

One player who could be moving to Juventus is Edinson Cavani, according to French media outlet Le10sport.com (h/t Daily Express‘ Charles Perrin). The 27-year-old rose to fame on the peninsula before completing a move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he has so far failed to live up to expectations.

United have also been linked with the Uruguay international, per Perrin, and given his struggles so far in the 2014-15 campaign, he could be available for a discount at the end of the season.

As shared by WhoScored.com, efficiency has been a major concern:

Part of his struggles come from the fact that he’s simply not a good fit for PSG’s system, which is built around the play of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Cavani has been forced into a wide role more often than not, and while he has been serviceable, the forward can do so much better when played as a lone striker.

The current system hasn’t exactly paid huge dividends for Les Parisiens, via Sky Football’s Matthew Stanger:

The Red Devils have their fair share of misfiring strikers, with Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie both failing to live up to their potential so far this season. Cavani wouldn’t come cheap, even at a discount, and at this point in time, a move to Old Trafford would make little sense.

Juventus need to find a replacement for Carlos Tevez, whose contract runs out at the end of next season, and Cavani‘s best performances came when he played in Serie A. On paper, it looks like a match made in heaven, so expect Cavani to prioritise a move to Turin in the summer.

 

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