Paul Pogba has put his club future to one side to star for Manchester United during the club’s 2-0 win over Perth Glory on Saturday.
Pogba has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford with the midfielder and his agent both confirming that the player is looking for a new challenge but it didn’t stop him from producing a sublime assist for Marcus Rashford’s opener on the hour mark.
Rashford gave United the lead after pouncing on a delicate backheel from Pogba before James Garner doubled the visitors’ advantage minutes from full-time to give United a winning start to their pre-season tour.
https://twitter.com/UnitedBrasil_/status/1150030067491360768
Pogba rejoined United for £89 million in 2016 but now looks ready to move on with his agent Mino Raiola releasing a statement on Saturday claiming that ‘everyone within the club, from the manager to the owner, knows the willingness of Paul to move on from the club’.
However, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is entering his first summer as United boss, insists that the club don’t have to sell any of their players.
“There has been loads of talk and speculation, of course, about all our players or many of our players, both ins and outs,” he said earlier this week.
“For me, it’s business as usual. When you’re Man United, you expect all these things to pop up in the summer.
“And of course I’ve been in touch with Paul, spoken to Paul. Spoken to Rom [Romelu Lukaku], spoken to Rashy [Marcus Rashford], Jesse (Lingard) – I’ve spoken to all the players, more or less, over the summer.
“As you do, you keep in touch with them. As far as I am aware and up to now, we don’t have any bids for any of our players. We are Man United – we don’t have to sell players.
“Agents talk all the time. Paul is a top bloke, a great professional. He has never put himself out of the team. He has always wanted to play and he always gives his best.”
Elsewhere defender Luke Shaw limped off with what is suspected to be a hamstring injury.
Luke Shaw will be assessed after limping off with a hamstring-related issue in United's first game – a win over Perth Glory – of their Australian tour. #MUFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) July 13, 2019
Shaw has had a wretched time with injury since joining the club in 2014 and has suffered ankle, face, foot and head injuries along with a broken leg.
He was called up to the England squad in March for the Euro 2020 qualifying games against Czech Republic and Montenegro but withdrew with injury.
Shaw was United’s player of the season last term and he said that he was determined to prove that he deserved his place at the club after an injury plagued few years.
“I’ve had an unfortunate two or three years,” he said at the start of last season.
“That’s in the past and I’m just looking forward. On the nutrition side, I wouldn’t say I made massive changes. I’ve cut out some of the silly things I was doing.
“I wanted to prove everybody wrong and get back to my best. I’m feeling the best ever, not just on the pitch but off it. I’ve gone from sort of a kid to a man now.”
