Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been opening up on his career as he plots his return to football.
After being cleared following a doping investigation, Paul Pogba is working on a return and reflecting on his storied career.
The 2018 World Cup winner had two spells at Manchester United, leaving on a free transfer in 2012 and again in 2022, having re-signed for £89 million in 2016.
Pogba remains Manchester United’s most expensive ever signing, but his time at Old Trafford was not a smooth one.
Paul Pogba on Manchester United woe
Paul Pogba has conducted interviews with different media outlets amid his clearance to resume his football career.
Pogba was asked about his spell at Manchester United, and decided to open up on his desire to leave.
Back in 2019 there was uncertainty whether Pogba would even fly out on Manchester United’s pre-season tour to Australia, into the final hours.
Pogba did join the team – but admitted his heart was not in it after his exit was blocked by club bosses.
The Frenchman told The Mail that Manchester United falling behind rivals Liverpool and Manchester City led to him becoming disenchanted.
He explained: “I will tell you something I’ve never told anyone. The year Jose went and Ole came, it was my best season at United but after the last game I told Ole and Ed Woodward that I thought it was my last year and that I wanted to leave.
“I was 27 back then, it didn’t work out the way I wanted. I gave my best but I didn’t see the club going upwards.
“Manchester City and Liverpool were better than us and they were improving. Ole said yes (to me leaving) and that he would talk to Ed.
“My head was already that I wanted to go but I came back for pre season because I wanted to be professional.
“I spoke to Ed to try to make a move but he blocked it. I didn’t want to play for United anymore but I had to be professional. Mentally I wasn’t there and then I got the injuries.”
Pogba lasted until late September before breaking down with injury problems and only returned to action in June following the enforced break for Covid.
New signing Bruno Fernandes briefly energised him but Manchester United did not reach the levels he aspired to.
It took until 2022 for his contract to expire, by which point Pogba was well and truly exasperated, and fans were content to see him go.
2019 was the right time to cash in on Pogba, however, no bids matching United’s valuations were received. There was interest from Real Madrid but only at a fraction of the huge price United paid for him three years prior.
Cristiano Ronaldo sentiments echoed
In 2017/18 Manchester United finished second in the Premier League. There was something to build on.
Manchester United then blew it in the transfer window, signing only Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant.
Jose Mourinho was fired within months, and another rebuilding season began. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the interim boss who began well but after beating PSG, and being appointed permanently, the team’s form took a nosedive.
At the end of 2018/19, Pogba’s misgivings about the United project were understandable, in the context of his age, and winning the World Cup just 12 months earlier. The team headed into 2019/20 not in the conversation for the title, and no midfield signings were added around him.
Pogba’s frustrations reflected Cristiano Ronaldo’s sentiments at Manchester United in 2022.
Ronaldo was annoyed that United had been unable to build on a second placed finish before he arrived, and went backwards, appointing an interim boss.
Like Pogba, Ronaldo had come to United to win titles. And they did not get near, with United trailing City and Liverpool.
To some degree they must take a little responsibility. In the 2021/22 season Pogba and Ronaldo did not hit it off. This was a chance to create one of the Premier League’s most devastating connections. But the pair struggled to combine.
By this point Pogba had checked out, while Ronaldo had run out of patience midway through the season.
While frustrated by broken promises, the players owed it to Manchester United supporters to give their all.
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