Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba swap prospects between Man Utd and Juventus explored

Manchester United have been linked with a sensational swap for Ronaldo with Pogba going the other way to Juventus - but could it really happen?

Posted Sunday, December 20, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester United have been linked with a sensational swap deal for Cristiano Ronaldo which would see Paul Pogba return to Juventus.

Of course, speculation over Ronaldo one day returning to Old Trafford has been a recurring theme ever since he left the Premier league giants for Real Madrid back in 2009.

But could a deal actually happen this time?

Juventus are believed to be open to selling Ronaldo, with his £26m-a-year salary proving a burden amid the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

As for Pogba, the France star's agent Mino Raiola caused a furore earlier this month when he said his client was unhappy at United, suggesting a January exit would suit both parties.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba could be heading in opposite directions

Pogba turned in an assured display as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side came from a goal behind (of course) to beat Sheffield United with an impressive attacking performance on Thursday night.

He has started United's last three games, and his performance against the Blades suggested that Solskjaer could yet find a way to fit him into his plans after years of the midfielder underachieving at Old Trafford.

A swap deal involving Pogba and Ronaldo could nevertheless make sense for both United and Juventus.

United would secure the return of one of the game's greatest players, while Juventus would clear Ronaldo from their wage bill in return for their former player, who previously excelled in Turin and at 27, still has his best years ahead of him.

It is easy to see why the deal would make financial sense for Juventus, with Ronaldo's whopping paypacket almost twice as much as Pogba's £15m-a-year wages.

The Serie A giants would no longer be able to capitalise on Ronaldo's huge worldwide brand, but would still be landing one of the game's most marketable stars.

United's wage bill would of course rocket if they were to bring Ronaldo back to the Premier League - but the Portuguese's stars astronomical commercial pulling power would help to offset that.

His impact on the pitch would also no doubt be greater than Pogba's has been - and amid continued speculation that Lionel Messi could join Manchester City, the idea of the game's two biggest stars duelling it out in Manchester would be a tantalising prospect.

But will it happen? There appear to be plenty of pluses for both sides, but the big stumbling block for United would be Ronaldo's salary.

If the Portugal captain can be persuaded to take a hit on the wages in order to return to the club where he first won the Champions League and became a global superstar, that might get United talking.

But given the Red Devils' failure to land Solskjaer's top target Jadon Sancho over the summer due to Borussia Dortmund's £108m price tag, a mega-money move for football's biggest box-office star still seems like fantasy at the moment.