Manchester United’s players have always been a lightning rod for criticism, as Paul Pogba famously found out.
When you look back at Paul Pogba’s spell at Manchester United, it is fair to conclude that he struggled to live up to the £89 million transfer fee. He did not play in a single Champions League knockout win during his six seasons.
At the same time, Pogba was the subject of heavy criticism straight away, given very harsh treatment from the national press and media.
2016-17 was one of his best seasons at the club, with United winning the Europa League and League Cup under Jose Mourinho.
Yet from the very start, Pogba had a target on his back due to his then world-record price tag. Let’s rewind…
Paul Pogba’s early performances for Manchester United
Paul Pogba made his second debut for Manchester United in a 2-0 victory over Southampton at Old Trafford.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the goals and stole the headlines early on, but Pogba did manage to score in his opening five games.
Pogba netted his first United goal in his fifth appearance, scoring the fourth in a 4-1 win over Leicester City, with the Red Devils scoring all four goals before half-time.
The midfielder’s seventh game was a 0-0 draw at Anfield where United played without ambition, and there was heavy criticism for the record signing.
The reaction was a lot harsher than the soft criticism doled out to Liverpool’s current record signing Florian Wirtz, who has failed to score or assist in his opening seven matches.
What the press said about Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba was slated by The Guardian in 2016 following Manchester United, who wrote: “So far the return on the investment has been disappointing.
“For a club built on the scintillating talents of George Best, Eric Cantona and Rooney to have the next supposed main-man so muted is odd.”
The Mirror criticised Pogba’s passing accuracy, writing: “Regardless of the team’s style of play and system, are these REALLY the stats you would expect from a man who cost EIGHTY NINE MILLION POUNDS?”
Graeme Souness had torn into him on Sky Sports, for the first of many times, commenting: “Pogba may eventually be £100m worth, but right now I don’t see him anywhere near that.”
Even heavier criticism of Pogba came from another former Liverpool player one month earlier, in September 2016.
One month earlier, in just his third ever game since his move, Pogba was slated by Jamie Carragher after United were beaten 2-1 by City.
Carragher was quoted via The Independent, speaking to Sky: “For a central midfielder in a game of that magnitude, I think for the first 40 minutes it was one of the most ill-disciplined performances you will see,
“The only way to describe it was like watching the best player in the schoolyard that runs where he wants and does what he wants.
“Pogba has cost what he has cost and he has done what he has done, he’s not a kid. He is 23.”
Throughout his time at United, there was a sense that Pogba was treated appallingly by the media from day one. The early criticism he had to deal with proves it.
Pogba had the last laugh as he ended the season with two trophies, but ultimately his spell at Manchester United did not live up to the potential.
During this time he went on to showcase this ability in the 2018 World Cup for France, showing the high standards he was able to reach.
United released the Frenchman in 2022 for a second time, and he has struggled since. He is currently at Monaco battling to get fit and revive his career.
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