Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 9y

Paul Pogba inspired by Ballon d'Or winners Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini

Paul Pogba has set his sights on emulating compatriots Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini by winning the Ballon d'Or at Juventus.

Platini became the first to win the award in three successive years as the key figure in the Bianconeri's all-conquering side of the mid-1980s, while Zidane's exploits for the Turin club and his contribution to France's World Cup win earned him the honour in 1998.

Tipped as a future great of the game, Pogba, 21, told media at France's training centre outside Paris that having just signed a three-year extension with Juve through to 2019, he now believes he has an opportunity of following in his predecessors' footsteps.

He said: "Personally, I want to become a great player, do great things and win the Champions League. My contract with Juve is going to allow me to advance and achieve my objectives. There are a lot of French players who have won the Ballon d'Or at Juventus.

"For me, it's a very big club. I know that, in the future, we can win something. It's going to take a little more financially, because we're not Real Madrid, Manchester United or PSG. But I know that we have the players for that."

Pogba joined Juventus after leaving Manchester United due to a lack of playing time at Old Trafford. The youngster's decision was vindicated as he immediately established himself as first-choice in Turin, helping Juve to back-to-back Serie A titles.

He might, however, have been still playing in England if Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had had his way with the Frenchman admittingĀ he wanted to bring Pogba to London.

"We were interested by Pogba when he was at Manchester [United]," Wenger told beIN SPORTS. "I was surprised to see Manchester let him go. We did not have the right to contact him."

^ Back to Top ^