Pogba needs help to thrive as Juventus No.10, says Camoranesi

Paul Pogba needs help to become integral to Juventus after being handed the No.10 shirt, according to former midfielder Mauro Camoranesi.

Pogba, who was the subject of reported overtures from Chelsea in the summer, has become one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the world at the age of 22.

The Frenchman has made over 130 appearances for the club following his free transfer from Manchester United in 2012 but Camoranesi maintains that his team-mates must also step up to the plate to lighten the load on Pogba in 2015-16.

"It’s strange to see the Frenchman with that number on his shoulders: he has other characteristics,” he told Corriere dello Sport. “One cannot ask you to drag the team at his age, he has a great future ahead, and has proven to have huge room for improvement.

“Right now he is the most important player in the team but to load him with too many expectations would be wrong. It risks burning him out. If he gets the right support he will become crucial for Juve."

Juventus have lost such stars as Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal in the last three months, but Camoranesi maintains that the club can succeed even without the previously indispensable trio.

"We must be within the dynamics of a team to assess and make judgments; for sure Tevez, Pirlo and Vidal had a lot of charisma and now that they’re not there that is lacking,” he added.

“I do not know if the guys who arrived this year have the same profile, they can certainly count on people like Buffon and Barzagli, just to name a few, who have plenty of experience and charisma both on and off the pitch.

 "I really like the project. They have a great mix of young talents and established stars like Khedira or Mandzukic, players who in their career have proven to be competitive at international level, have experience and are up to wearing the black and white jersey. "

Juve, however, are yet to collect a point in Serie A, losing to Udinese and Roma, but Camoranesi maintains that he unworried by his former club’s poor start to the season.

"It’s strange to see the team with no points in the standings, but it’s is part of the game,” he added. “So far they have played only 180 minutes, but there are 38 games. In recent years Juventus won the league title mathematically when there were three or four games to go, so I don’t see the problem.

“Of course, starting the season with two consecutive defeats is certainly not the best and does not please anyone, but the club has put together a good group that has the potential to win again. I'm sure.”