Allegri sheds light on two rumoured Juventus targets

While the international break is upon us, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is managing to keep himself busy with speaking assignments here and there.

At one such event, Allegri was asked about Juve’s rumoured interest in former player Paul Pogba, who by all accounts is having a miserable time back at Manchester United. The midfielder is enduring a frosty relationship with temperamental manager Jose Mourinho, and with the Bianconeri scheduled to play them twice in the coming weeks in the Champions League, it’ll be interesting to see what the team chemistry is like.

“Pogba? He plays in Manchester and we have to face him in two crucial games to get through in the Champions League.”

However Allegri wasn’t as dismissive when asked about Paris St. Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot, whose contract expires this coming June and it’s looking like the player will run down his current deal to ensure he can dictate where he goes next, much like Sami Khedira and Emre Can have done lately.

“It makes no sense to talk about him now…”

Cryptic. Interesting.

Speaking at the same Samsung event, Allegri spoke about the club having bigger ambitions this season.

“After winning seven Scudetti and four Coppe Italia, it’s time to win in Europe, having gone close before.”

The press have been on him all season long about Cristiano Ronaldo, and with the current allegations against the superstar, that will not change anytime soon.

“I think he should be managed normally, as always, while letting him know we’re close to him, like I said at my Press conference.

“If he does what he did in Udine, where he scored an extraordinary goal…”

Juve are ten-for-ten right now, an extraordinary record.

“I remember when [Fabio] Capello’s Milan beat my Pescara 5-4 and he said that after that game they wouldn’t lose any. That was, in fact, what happened.

“The truth is though that you have to take things one game at a time. Straight after the international break we have Genoa, who have just changed their Coach, and that won’t be easy.”

Allegri also provided an injury update on the squad.

“Douglas Costa is fit and he’ll be there against Genoa, but I don’t know about Sami Khedira.”