Its all kicking off again between Mourinho and Pogba. Just because Barcelona aren’t intending to move for Paul Pogba in this transfer window doesn’t mean that everything is sweetness and light. Far bloody from it, according to Thursday’s papers.
We’ll start with the Daily Mail, who say that Pogba is determined to leave Manchester United for Barcelona even if his relationship with Mourinho is mended. Chris Wheeler writes that Mourinho tried to placate Pogba by giving him the Manchester United captaincy for the first league game of the season. However, that hasn’t changed Pogba’s determination to leave.
The Sun take up the cudgels, saying that the pair’s relationship has hit a new low after Mourinho told Pogba to officially request a move if he wants one. Pogba’s response was to tell Mourinho in no uncertain terms that he will speak to Mourinho through his agent Mino Raiola, but will not discuss the matter with him personally.
This is really not going well.
Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho will “figure it out” at Manchester United, says Dimitar Berbatov, with talk of a transfer for the French midfielder considered to have been exaggerated.
While Premier League clubs have seen their recruitment deadline pass, teams across Europe remain in the market for late additions in their respective windows and as a result, Pogba continued to be linked with big money moves to the likes of Barcelona – despite the La Liga giants ruling themselves out of the running.
Berbatov doubts that a deal will be done, with United still looking to an £89 million ($113m) asset for inspiration against a backdrop of reports regarding a supposed rift between star player and manager at Old Trafford.
The former Red Devils striker told betfair: “I was very happy with the display of Paul Pogba against Leicester, it was a real captain’s performance.
“He was everywhere on the pitch, passed it well, took the penalty with confidence – considering it was the first game, it was very encouraging.
“There has been chat in the media about him being unhappy, but I think the newspapers and social media are always focused on that side of things, trying to find problems that aren’t necessarily there, constantly exaggerating – it’s on the pitch that matters.
“These stories are not good for anybody, but Jose and Pogba will figure it out.”
Pogba impressed on his first outing since helping France to World Cup glory as United edged out Leicester 2-1 on home soil.
Mourinho’s men are now up and running for 2018-19 and Berbatov believes another season of winning football lies in store for the Red Devils – even if it is not the most entertaining at times.
The Bulgarian added: “I said last week that I thought Manchester United’s game with Leicester would end in a low-scoring win and it ended up being a tight one.
The midfielder seemed to indicate he was unhappy and said: “If you’re not happy, you cannot give your best.
“There are things I cannot say otherwise I will get fined.”
And according to sources Mourinho told Pogba that should he wish to quit the club “again”, then he should hand in a transfer request.
The ‘again’ referred to a dig the Portuguese tactician made when Pogba quit United in 2012 to earn more money at Juventus before he returned two years ago.
Pogba supposedly hit back at Mourinho and suggested that should the manager speak to him, then he should do so through his agent, Mino Raiola.
Mourinho, The Sun claim, has issues with Raiola and blames him for the tensions with Pogba.
Mourinho labelled Pogba a ‘monster’ after his display against the Foxes last Friday.
He said: “Pogba was a monster.
“We thought maximum [he would play] 60 minutes, but he managed more than 80.
“It was not a hard decision [to start Pogba], the decision was down to him. With Ander Herrera injured, I had only two options, Scott McTominay or Pogba.
“If I played Scott, I would have two kids and a new player [Fred] in midfield.
“So I asked Paul and he put himself forward for the team and was very, very good for us.”