CRISTIANO RONALDO has told Juventus chiefs: We need Paul Pogba.
The Italian giants, along with Real Madrid, have been chasing the Manchester United star since the summer.
Juve’s main sponsors has given the club a 200million war chest – and now they are ready to splash the cash in January to bring in their old player.
Midfielder Pogba, 26, is closing in on a first-team return at United after two months out with an ankle injury.
And now, Ronaldo has lent his considerable weight to the chase for the France World Cup-winning star.
Ronaldo already has 16 goals in 19 appearances for club and country this season – but knows with Pogba supplying more ammunition he can get even more.
Pogba has priced himself out of a new United contract by demanding a huge 600,000-a-week deal, which would put him clear of top earner Alexis Sanchez, on 505,000-a-week.
Spanish outlet Eldesmarque claims United will push through a January sale as they are fed up with Pogba’s attitude.
Real remain favourites to grab the player as boss Zinedine Zidane has made his countryman the top target, they say.
And Bernabeu chiefs believe they can get him for 130m.
United were looking to get 180m for a player who cost them 89m from Juve in 2016.
But if they let him stay until the summer, his valuation will plummet with only one year left on his Old Trafford deal.
Ronaldo remains a big fan, although he has his own problems in Turin.
The Portuguese does not see eye-to-eye with Juve’s former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.
Pogba’s arrival would increase the pressure on Aaron Ramsey’s spot.
The Welshman, recruited on a free transfer from Arsenal in thew summer, annoyed Ronaldo when he nicked a goal off the Portuguese from on the goalline in a Seria A match last week.
