Juventus are earning themselves a reputation as becoming the kings of the free transfer - but their latest signing really is an exceptional one.
The Turin-based titans have managed to secure Paul Pogba's signature without paying a penny in transfer fees after the Frenchman ran down the entirety of his Manchester United contract allowing him to leave Old Trafford for nothing this summer. From Juventus ' perspective, that decision has presented them with the chance to gain a ludicrously talented midfielder for nothing more than his wages.
Reports have emerged that the contract between Juventus and Pogba is ready to be signed when the player returns from his summer holiday. The deal is expected to be officially announced within the fortnight.
Pogba's return to Italy comes six years after he first left Juventus when it was United overseeing his return having left the Red Devils in 2012. He came back to Old Trafford for a then-world record fee of £90million in 2016, prompting huge excitement that Pogba would go some way to helping United restore themselves to their former glories.
Instead, it was a move that saw the World Cup winner become one of the most divisive players in the Premier League. United were accused by some of not doing enough to unlock the Frenchman's talent by surrounding him with equally talented additions.
Others simply saw it as a case of Pogba falling spectacularly short of the required effort level - it was an argument that raged on throughout his second spell in the English top-flight.
Pogba will be playing in Serie A with a point to prove, as he alluded to in his recent Amazon Prime documentary 'The Pogumentary'. "My thought process is to show Manchester that they made a mistake in waiting to give me a contract," he added.
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"And to show other clubs that Manchester had made a mistake in not offering me a contract." A motivated Pogba could prove quite the headache for Italian opposition moving forward next term.
The 29-year-old leaves Manchester with an honours list that is drastically below what was expected of him before his signing. United legend Roy Keane was never shy of criticising Pogba, but arguably his most damning review came when talking about the trophies he hasn't won.
"I think when Manchester United signed Paul Pogba, it wasn't to be playing in the Europa League or to be winning the League Cup," Keane explained.
Pogba walked out of United with just a Europa League and League Cup to show for his six-year effort. Hardly worth the £90m fee, but he won't have the burden of any price tag at Juventus.
