Giuntoli: ‘Pogba has been great, but Juventus are complete’ | OneFootball

Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli slammed the door firmly shut on Paul Pogba’s hopes of playing for them again. ‘He has been a great player, but the squad is complete.’

The game with Lazio kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

These two teams go into the fixture level on 13 points apiece and with a pair of victories under their belts in Europe too.

“We had a good start with many new players, a new coach and very different way of playing football,” Giuntoli told Sky Sport Italia and DAZN.

Some changes are forced after the 1-1 draw with Cagliari, as Francisco Conceicao is suspended, with Teun Koopmeiners, Nico Gonzalez, Weston McKennie, Gleison Bremer and Arek Milik injured.

“The team is doing well, some have already proved themselves, others we hope will do so very soon, but everyone is involved.

“Douglas Luiz had some complications in fitness terms at the start, but is getting better with regular training and we just need a little patience.

“To see this much balance and consistency in a practically new squad gives us hope for the future. We want to continue winning and hopefully get more home victories, starting from tonight.”

Juventus do not want Pogba back

Paul Pogba EPA-EFE/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

Pogba broke his silence this week with a series of interviews where he repeatedly stated that he is under contract at Juventus, wants to speak to coach Thiago Motta and earn his place back in the team.

However, Giuntoli slammed the door shut on any chance of seeing the Frenchman back in the Juve jersey when his doping ban expires in March 2025.

“Our position is clear. Pogba has been a great player, he has been out for a long time and last year we were forced to invest in other players. So now the squad is complete as it is.”

The only area where Juve are perhaps struggling is in defence after Bremer was ruled out for six months by a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“Bremer’s injury does make us think about January, although it is not easy. Meanwhile, we’ll see what the lads in the squad can bring us.”