Blaise Matuidi admits talking to Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba about Juventus before making the move.

Former PSG star Matuidi arrived this season, but had been in advanced negotiations for a transfer in 2016.

“I talked a lot with Paul [Pogba]. He told me a lot of good things about this club. Their desire to win, their rigour, their work ethic and high standards.

“I exchanged information with Pat [Evra] who also told me only good things. And the national team Coach [Didier Deschamps] also passed through there.

“On the first day I discovered J-Medical. There, I was shocked! All those machines, all the medical staff… There's absolutely everything here, it's extraordinary.

“Right away I released they left nothing to chance, and that's the mark of the great teams. I saw several doctors, and each one specialised in one part of the body. If you have a problem with your hand, don't worry, here's a hand specialist.

“They checked me for everything. And the follow-up is very much tailored to the individual. When I arrived I wasn't too used to working in the gym. We must tell the truth here: we, the French - with some exceptions - don't like working too hard outside of training.

“Here I got the taste for that kind of work. The strength in my upper and lower body, the way of positioning myself… After a few months I'm already noticing that it's doing me a lot of good."