“Do Madrid need Pogba? Um…”

Raul isn’t sure Real Madrid need Paul Pogba but admits ‘anyone’ would want to sign the Juventus midfielder.

Los Blancos’ legend Raul has spoken to AS in a wide-ranging interview and the discussion was concluded with a question on the France international, widely regarded to be Madrid’s main objective for the summer transfer market.

“Do Madrid need to sign Pogba? Um…I don’t know. Let’s see, he’s a great player and I’m sure Madrid and the coaching staff have assessed how he can fit with the current system. You want to have options. For me the road has been marked, and the Champions League was won, so…” he replied, before it was pointed out that part of Zinedine Zidane’s success was down to using Casemiro.

“Of course, Zidane won the World Cup, the European Championships, and the Champions League. Ask me why he won those. Because of Claude Makelele, and for France because of Emmanuel Petit and Didier Deschamps.

“There has to be a team, a balance, and there are players who can give you that. There are times in the game when you’re not attacking all the time. And that balance is given to you by a player.

“Madrid also played well with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and James Rodriguez in the middle. Look at La Decima, the balance player was Angel Di Maria. Rafa Benitez also put Casemiro in the team.

“He was a fundamental piece and he was removed [in the Clasico defeat, AS suggesting at the request of Florentino Perez]. Maybe Benitez saw the team more rounded after two months of work and though everything could be held by the players with the best feet. But, with three monsters [the BBC] in attack, Casemiro fit in well.

“And Pogba? Well, you can have physical and defensive balance. He’s a great player. The price and conditions would have to be assessed. But he would be wanted by Madrid and anyone else…”

Tags Juventus Paul Pogba Raul
La Liga - Club News