Pogba doesn’t have enough good will with Man Utd fans to flirt with Real Madrid transfer
MANCHESTER UNITED would like to think it was a polite answer to a polite question - and maybe it was.
But when you are already at Manchester United and the subject of Real Madrid comes up do you really describe it as a dream to go there?
After what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done in the last four months do you exalt the greatness of Zinedine Zidane?
Had there been no previous with Paul Pogba then this would be all forgotten.
The problem is when you and your agents have hinted at a departure from Old Trafford in the past – having left once already – the alarm bells start to ring.
So here is Pogba’s quote while on international duty with France this week, where he said: “Like I’ve always said, Real Madrid is a dream for anyone. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“There is also Zidane as a coach and it’s a dream for anybody who likes football. For now, I’m at Manchester. We don’t know what the future holds. I’m at Manchester and I’m happy.”
POG'S DREAM COME TRUE
The two big words here are ";for now" - Pogba does not have enough good will from United fans in the bank to play this game.
Social media reaction told us this yesterday. Now let’s not forget what he claimed after the opening game of the season, saying: “If you’re not happy, you cannot give your best.
“There are things that I cannot say otherwise I will get fined.”
OK, that was under Jose Mourinho and the pair clearly did not get on. So why stir it up again?
One of the big problems at Manchester United at the moment surrounds Alexis Sanchez.
Not his form, or attitude etc..I would think the club and manager have long since given up on the Chilean.
Forget the fist-pumping videos about him doing it all for the club, the wait is over, forget it, waste of time and money.
The problem is his wages are £505,000-a-week. Pogba is approaching a new contract zone and maybe he thinks he is worth the same. As does David De Gea, hence that delay too.
To be fair club mascot Fred The Red deserves a pay rise compared to what Sanchez has contributed.
Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola is not averse to stirring the pot and Jose Mourinho felt this was one of the biggest problems in his relationship with Pogba.
GIVING HIS OLE?
Yet, the feel good factor under Solskjaer changed things. Pogba was intent on leaving this summer if Mourinho was still in charge.
After being benched and subbed he was even hoping for a loan deal last January. He became happy at United again.
So why this now?
Every international break something like this happens with players.
There seems to be an assumption that because they have said something in France or wherever it won’t get back to England.
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Juan Veron regularly went away and talked about other destinations as he struggled at Old Trafford.
All lost in translation according to the club. No problem apparently. That was still the narrative when we were in America on pre-season and 24 hours later… he left for Chelsea.
So, yes, maybe it was a polite answer about Real Madrid to a polite question. Maybe.
Or maybe a game is being played at a time when the club could really do without it.