Jose Mourinho has made the French midfielder a priority transfer target but sour memories may prove a bigger stumbling block that a hefty price-tag.
Paul Pogba’s mother has opened up about her son’s final months at Manchester United and the revelations suggest he is unlikely to ever wear their jersey again.
Juventus have attempted to ward off all suitors by placing a transfer fee of €112 million on the 23-year-old.
Not many clubs have such resources but Mourinho may be able to convince the United board that the huge sum will pay for itself in the long run.
Pogba, of course, has previously played for United but he left in unhappy circumstances. As a top youth prospect at the club – signed at 15 from Le Havre – Pogba was said to be devastated that Alex Ferguson did not promote him to the senior team in 2011/12.
Pogba did get cup appearances with United that season but was denied league outings, initially, when Ferguson tempted Paul Scholes out of retirement. He played a few league games near the end of the season but felt unwanted at the club.
His mother, Yeo Moriba, told AFP how Ferguson came to her house only to learn that Pogba would not be re-signing for United. She commented:
“Ferguson punished him, he didn’t play him, Paul was alone. He even cried in Ferguson’s office over the way he was treated.”
After taking advice from his agent, mother and twin brothers, who also play football, Pogba headed to Turin and made a name for himself with Juve.
€112m could seem cheap by the end of Euro 2016 but Mourinho, who wanted Pogba at Chelsea, will have to do some job convincing him to return to Manchester.
