Paul Pogba has been speaking to La Repubblica about his season with Juventus, his style both on and off the pitch and of course, what the future holds.
 

He was asked first however, how he would like to be remembered to which he replied; “Like Pele or Maradona or even better like both; a legend of football”. Asked if he thought this sounded a little arrogant he explained that; “I’ve not said I want to be considered better than them, just the same”.
 

He continued by stating that; “I have a problem, I hate losing and I want to be original, to do what no-one else has done. I work so much because I want to become perfect and because when I win I’m happy”.  When it was suggested to him that people in his homeland had been predicting for the past two years that he would never reach greatness he replied; “People can say what they like, the facts suggest otherwise. In 2014 I was not in the FIFA top XI, 2015 I was and I will be again this year”. So when it was also suggested that opinion polls in France put him outside of the top three most loved players he declared; “I don’t play to be the most loved, just the best. I’m proud but never jealous or envious. If (Hugo) Lloris is the most loved then I’m happy for him”.  

Did he think he could have done better over the past two years? “You can always do better. Has Michael Jordan ever suggested he could have done better? You have to keep pushing yourself to go beyond”. So, was he struggling for form only a few months ago? “I was not at my level agreed, but the whole team was underperforming. Now I’ve improved and I hope I’ve been helpful to Juve winning the Scudetto”.
 

Asked if wearing the famous number 10 shirt for Juventus had been a hindrance, Pogba stated that; “The number 10 jersey for Juve is important, but it’s just a number”. So why did you add a number 5 with a marker to the back of the shirt? “Because I woke up that morning and thought that I wanted to write a 5 on the shirt. It meant nothing I was simply f****d up”.  

Didn’t he think it arrogant and selfish to say he wanted to be number one in a team game? Pogba replied; “If Messi scores is that being arrogant? No, it means you are strong and helping the team”, before adding that, “Look at Ronaldo. He has the highest objectives, he wants to beat records and win the Balon d’Or, that’s not selfish”. So where could he improve his game? “I can be inconsistent and that drives me mad. I was the same as kid playing football on the street”.
 

At 23 years of age, you have already won… “Four titles, only four”. Only? “This is not enough with the ambition I have. I was the same as a boy. I want to re-write history, become the strongest midfield player ever”. When put to him that he was still only 23 he quickly replied; “It’s not enough”. But wasn’t that being a little greedy? “Not at all, It would be hypocritical of me to say that the money wasn’t important, but you are ultimately judged on the trophies you win.”  

Returning to the money, he was asked what his most extravagant purchase has been, he stated it was; “Two pairs of Louboutin shoes, it was a mistake. I had stomach ache for a week afterwards and my mum keeps reminding me of this. I also use my money to help others but I don’t like to talk about this”. His constantly changing hairstyle was next on the agenda, he explained that; “People always watch but I don’t do it for the attention, I do it for myself. I had strange hair styles when I was a boy but I wasn’t in the public eye then. You should see me when I’m not on the field”, to which he added that; “I try to be happy, I go shopping for milk at Carrefour and I don’t constantly check how many followers I have on social media”.  

So what about the future? Pogba declared that it was; “To beat Carpi on Sunday, then win the Coppa Italia and then win Euro 2016 with France”. But would he remain at Juve next season? “I have a contract here that wouldn’t allow me to just wake-up one morning and go to England. Ask other people about this, I just want to play football”. Asked if he thought Juventus could win the Champions League he replied; “Four years ago when we drew Bayern Munich we didn’t believe we could win; this time we did believe we could win”.
 

When it was put to him that he was yet to transmit his club form to the national team and was this because Serie A was easy he explained that; “Easy? It’s harder, everything in Italy is tactics and you don’t get spaces. In Europe you have more time on the ball so the winner is the one who defends better”. Would he feel the pressure of playing a European Championship at home? “You don’t think about pressure, football is all about instinct”.

So what’s the most beautiful thing he has done on a football field? “I don’t spend time looking at the past although I do remember a great goal I scored against Udinese but only because I now want to do an even better one”. Finally, was it his dream in the next 50 years to hear a boy say he would like to be like Pogba? “No, I want to hear someone say they want to be stronger than Pogba”.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler