Pogba Needs Time To Grow Into Juventus Role – Del Piero

The 40-year-old believes Juve’s new number 10 must be given more time to develop into the role, following calls for improvement from Massimiliano Allegri

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has called for patience towards Paul Pogba after his slow start to the season.

Pogba has struggled for form since taking over the iconic number 10 shirt in Turin at the start of the campaign, and this has coincided with the Serie A champion’s worst domestic start in over 30 years.

Despite setting up Stephan Lichtsteiner in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Borussia Monchengladback on Wednesday, coach Massimiliano Allegri urged he still must improve.

Yet Del Piero feels he must be given time to grow into the role.

“Today it [the no. 10 shirt] is being worn by a very young and very talented player who half of Europe want to sign,” he said.

“Let’s give him time to learn, to make mistakes and to grow.”

Del Piero – the 2006 World Cup winner – also refused to rule out a playing comeback, despite last appearing in an official match in December 2014.

“I’ve never said [that I am definitely retired]. Football is my passion but there has to be a time when you officially say it is time to stop,” he added. “Who knows what will happen.

“I’m going through a period of reflection at the moment. I will always live my life through football, even if I end up doing something else and I’ll never fully turn my back on it.”

Paul Pogba Takes Juventus’ No.10 Shirt

The Frenchman has been handed the jersey famously worn by Alessandro Del Piero following the departure of Carlos Tevez

 

Juventus have announced that midfielder Paul Pogba has taken the vacant No.10 shirt for the season.

The Italian champions have been searching for a star player to wear number famously worn by Alessandro Del Piero during his long spell in Turin.

They had tried to buy Schalke attacker Julian Draxler and were linked with Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze but have now decided on an internal solution Pogba, who previously wore the No.6 shirt, will don his new squad number from the Supercoppa Italiana clash with Lazio on Saturday.

The last owner of the No.10 was Carlos Tevez, who left the club this summer to return to Boca Juniors.

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Barcelona made an €80 million bid for Pogba earlier this summer but were rebuffed in their attempt to sign the Frenchman.

Along with Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal have left the club this summer but Pogba now appears to be staying put.