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| Paul Pogba won the battle of the minds as his Juventus side beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad |
THE more one-eyed among Manchester City's home support last night and perhaps the odd suit in the director's box might have shrugged and suggested, perhaps a touch bitterly, what all the fuss had been about.
After a player, even one as gifted as Paul Pogba, turns a club down - one who were prepared to pay £70million and over £200,000 a week no less - it does not do to continue to cast admiring glances.
But on the evidence of last night's opening encounter City would be as well as roll out the red carpet and restart the charm offensive when the bargaining starts again in earnest.
City were serious about refreshing their midfield in the summer and mindful that Yaya Toure's legs will not continue marauding forever but Pogba failed to shine last night when he had a point to prove.
The pair were an intriguing subplot to an enthralling encounter in Group D - lining up as each other's shadows in midfield - one bullish and muscular, the other lithe and youthful.
But at the end of 90 minutes Pogba was the one who just about shaded things - his powerful running in midfield shading their personal battle and his cross from the left wing leading to Juve's equaliser.
The France international had a moderate first half winning his first header against Toure but conceding a free-kick and even having the ball in the back of the City goal in the 12th minute only for him to be ruled offside from Juan Cuadrado's centre.
Aside from that he was brilliantly dispossessed by Toure three minutes later, headed wide just before the half and finished the half kicking the turf in anger as his control deserted him near in front of the dugout.
Coming back after the break he looked refreshsed, reignited and as if he still wanted to keep City in the race for his signature next year. A stalking horse to drive the price up for Barca possibly but interested nonetheless.
Pogba has been in these parts before of course. Plucked from relative obscurity in Le Havre to join Manchester United's youth academy in 2009 he was on course for the first team when he left in July 2012 in controversial circumstances.
Faced with the prospect of joining Barcelona the Manchester Ship Canal might not hold too many fond memories but City will be in a position to make him an offer that might prove difficult to refuse.
For Mario Mandzukic's goal his cross floated invitingly on to his boot at the far post, the striker making best use of his precision.
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| Man City took the lead through an own goal from Giorgio Chiellini from Vincent Kompany's header |
From there to the close he grew in stature finding space in possession that Toure seemed unable to close down quick enough.
At the breakdown of City's possession he burst forward like a 400m runner.
In the summer just gone the Old Lady seemed happy to shed many of her jewels including Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal. The first two were perhaps in danger of losing some of their shine but they kept resolute hold of their most prized asset. They may not next summer.
Faced with disappointing start to their Champions' League campaign City should not rule out trying to prise it out of her hands once again.
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