Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be set to repeat one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s biggest mistakes as Manchester United manager, with Paul Pogba now expected to depart the club on a free transfer next summer.
What’s the story?
The World Cup-winning midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the current window, but the acquisition of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has now made that deal financially impossible.
With just under a year remaining on his current contract, Pogba will be able to depart his boyhood club as a free agent for a second time come June, something he is now planning to do, according to the Daily Mail.
Solskjaer could repeat one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s biggest mistakes
Pogba joined United from Le Havre in 2009 yet went on to make just three substitute appearances in the 2011/12 campaign before departing for Juventus after becoming frustrated at his lack of first-team minutes.
His exit caused little controversy at the time given his lack of exposure to senior football, although Ferguson was typically outspoken after seeing one of the club’s most promising youth academy graduates depart.
“Pogba signed for Juventus a long time ago as far as we’re aware. Which is disappointing. I don’t think he showed us any respect at all so, to be honest, I’m quite happy,” the Scotsman told MUTV (as relayed by BBC Sport)
However, Pogba would go on to establish himself as one of the world’s most dominant central midfielders during his time in Turin, claiming four Serie A titles and two Italian Cups during his four-year stay.
His inspired form led to United paying a then world-record £89m fee to bring him back to English shores after Jose Mourinho had taken charge of the 20-time English champions.
Ferguson later admitted that it was Pogba’s agent rather than the player himself that sparked his sudden move across the continent, writing in his 2015 book, Leading: “There are one or two football agents I simply do not like, and Mino Raiola, Paul Pogba’s agent is one of them. I distrusted him from the moment I met him.
“We had Paul under a three-year contract, and it had a one-year renewal option which we were eager to sign. Raiola suddenly appeared on the scene, and our first meeting was a fiasco. He and I were like oil and water.
“From then, our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to integrate himself with Paul and his family, and the player signed with Juventus,” Ferguson concluded.
And now, history could be set to repeat itself. Although Pogba hasn’t been able to inspire United to major trophies as his arrival was intended to do, the 28-year-old is undoubtedly a world-class performer on his day.
His time with the Red Devils has been ultimately underwhelming to date, yet the blame for that cannot lie solely at Pogba’s door.
The Mourinho era and transitional period under Solskjaer were hardly fertile ground for success, but the Norwegian tactician is started to build a sense of positivity, hope and expectation around Old Trafford once again.
Bringing in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane has showcased the newfound quality and potential of the English giants but losing Pogba would represent a significant blow to the progress previously made under Solskjaer’s reign.
It remains to be seen whether Ferguson’s most popular successor can learn from his mistakes and change Pogba’s mind, though what is for sure is that it would be a huge PR disaster if the club let him walk out the door for free for a second time.
And, in other news…John Murtough plots Man Utd move for “technically savvy” £35m gem, he has “everything”