Chiellini: ‘Pogba is the LeBron James of football’

Juventus are fourth in Serie A and will face Villarreal on Wednesday (16/3) in Turin to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Bianconeri manager Giorgio Chiellini gave an interview to the Times in which he mentioned his improvement and the role of defender, among other things, while discussing Killian Ebape and Paul Pogba, who is believed to be the transfer target of Vecchia Signora with his return.

Notably, the Italy international dubbed the Manchester United midfielder the LeBron James of football.

“Ebape is the most talented player. I played him for the first time in 2017, he was 18 but he was already incredible. I can’t imagine how he is now and what he can do in the future. I like his mentality. Pogba is the LeBron James of football: Really, the way he’s developed is amazing. When I first saw him in training, I said, “What? It’s not true”.

I knew he was coming from Manchester United so I was expecting to see a great player but the fact that he left made me think he wasn’t a top player. But it was. “Now I’m sorry that he can’t show all his qualities.” Chiellini mentioned it and added:

“When I was younger I needed an ‘enemy’ and didn’t have a good relationship with other strikers. Now I like to talk to them during games, I like to share feelings and discuss what’s happening during the game. And sometimes I joke with them. I’m not aggressive because now the “enemy” is not an enemy but a friend playing against me.

The role of defender is a role to be felt internally. You have to be happy that you don’t allow the attacker to play the game he wants. It’s a role that needs to be studied because you need to understand the opponent and understand their intent. You also need to impress him with your superiority to make him nervous.

I’m getting better day by day, year by year, game by game because I was passionate. And I still have the passion I had when I was 15.”