WANTAWAY Manchester United star Paul Pogba is the latest footballer wearing a shirt of a club that he’s been linked to.
The French midfielder shared a controversial snap wearing a Juventus jersey with Red Devils team-mate Viktor Lindelof in a Sampdoria top on Instagram.
Paul Pogba was seen wearing a Juventus shirt on InstagramCredit: Instagram @paulpogba
The French international wore the Juventus jersey in support of pal Blaise Matuidi who is battling coronavirusCredit: https://www.instagram.com/paulpogba/
It was all for a good cause, as they explained, in support of Blaise Matuidi and Albin Ekdal, who are battling the coronavirus.
But some United fans were upset as Juventus are one of the clubs keen on buying Pogba when the transfer window opens.
There are other footballers past and present who have worn or posed alongside a rival clubs’ colours, with some even moving to those teams.
Let SunSport round-up the best of the rest.
CESC FABREGAS, FROM ARSENAL TO BARCELONA
Back in July 2010, the former Arsenal playmaker’s Spanish team-mates Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique pulled a Barcelona jersey over Cesc during Spain’s World Cup victory celebrations.
The fact they were both stalwarts of the Catalans was no coincidence.
Cesc squirmed on the stage as the defenders wrestled the shirt on him, knowing full well the upset it might’ve caused.
The Gunners were desperate to keep hold of their prized asset – and had rejected a bid from Barca before the World Cup.
A year and a month later, Fabregas finally the La Liga giants for a fee believed to be around £35m.
Barcelona stars Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique dress Cesc Fabregas in a Barcelona shirtCredit: Reuters
PAUL INCE, FROM WEST HAM TO MAN UTD
Paul Ince came through the West Ham youth team and was a fans’ favourite.
However, when the Hammers were relegated in the 1988-89 season to Division Two, it was unfathomable they would be able to keep hold of their star player.
In 1989, the Daily Express printed a picture of the England legend wearing a Man Utd kit, before the move was announced.
Ince said the snap was taken before he went on holiday and was leaked early.
He was now public enemy No1 to the East Londoners, and luckily enough he passed his medical and escaped the irate Hammers a few weeks later.
Paul Ince was a West Ham hero until news leaked of his move to Man Utd earlyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
EDEN HAZARD, FROM CHELSEA TO REAL MADRID
When footballers are on holiday, not only do they let their hair down but their guard drops too.
Ex Chelsea star Eden Hazard was, in fairness, on the verge of £115m move to Real Madrid before he was collared by a fan in Marbella, who asked him to sign the famous Los Blancos shirt.
The Belgium playmaker then posed for a snap with the shirt and the man before going his separate ways with his family.
On July 7, some two months after that photo was taken, he was confirmed as a Real Madrid player.
Eden Hazard was officially unveiled by Real Madrid a month after he posed with fan with a Los Blancos shirtCredit: Getty Images – Getty
ERIC CANTONA, SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
A complicated personality in his youth, Cantona sought out a move to England after he was banned in France for throwing a ball at a referee while playing for Nimes.
Sheffield Wednesday had ‘King Eric’ playing in an indoor tournament at the Sheffield Arena, and he wore an Owls jersey well.
But it was a transfer that never happened, as Wednesday dithered and let rivals Leeds United steal his signature for an initial loan fee of £100,000, followed by a £900,000 to sign Cantona permanently.
The rest is history as he became a Premier League legend… but not with Sheffield Wednesday.
Eric Cantona to Sheffield Wednesday never happened for sorry Owls fansCredit: Colorsport
JOHN OBI MIKEL, MAN UTD
Before the Nigerian bossed the midfield at Stamford Bridge, he nearly joined Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
In May 2005, Obi Mikel was snapped holding up a Red Devils shirt at a hastily organised press conference after it was thought he had signed from Lyn.
However, Mikel seemed to have a change of heart, claiming he had been pressured to sign a deal with United without his agent present, which United denied.
Following a long legal dispute, with Chelsea having to pay Man Utd £12MILLION and Lyn receiving £4MILLION, he eventually signed for the Blues a year later.
John Obi Mikel posed in a Man Utd shirt in a press conference a year before signing for Chelsea after a legal battleCredit: AFP – Getty
RAHEEM STERLING, REAL MADRID
Could this be a work in progress?
A week after Man City winger Sterling was linked to a mega £180MILLION move to the Bernabeu, the England star posed for a picture in Spanish newspaper AS with a Real Madrid shirt draped over one shoulder and the City one on the other.
In an exclusive interview, Sterling was asked about the possibility of joining Real in the future but the 25-year-old revealed “right now” he is happy at City.
He said: “It’s one of those things… right now I’m at City and I’m really happy.
“But I say Real Madrid are a fantastic club, when you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for, it’s massive.
“But at the same time, I have a contract with City now and I have to respect this. But it’s a fantastic club.”
Watch this space.
Raheem Sterling appears on the cover of Spanish newspaper AS with a Real Madrid jersey over his shoulder
Man City boss Pep Guardiola says Raheem Sterling is free to talk to whoever after the player is photographed with Madrid shirt
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
