Paul Pogba’s mates have cast-iron proof the world’s most expensive player just loves football

You are on the brink of completing the most expensive transfer of all time. All that remains is the small matter of an £89 million medical.

Do you (a) wrap yourself in cotton wool and refuse to move for fear of stepping on some lego or stubbing your toe, (b) insist your GP calls around and gives you a thorough once-over to make sure you are not coming down with something or (c) say "f**k it" and go for a kickabout with your mates? If you are Paul Pogba the answer is C. Manchester United's prodigal son has returned to Old Trafford for an extortionate sum but any fear that the French midfielder is in any way overawed by his world record fee can be put to bed with news that he returned to his hometown of Roissy-en-Brie to play football with his mates just hours before having to cough for the club's doctors. “Paul comes back to visit a lot,” his boyhood club's treasurer Nicolas Moressee told Sam Wallace of the Daily Telegraph. “He was here on Sunday” Why would he be back at US Roissy's little stadium in the midst of his blockbuster move from Juventus? “What he always does, playing football with his mates.” Having starred for France during the hosts' run to the Euro 2016 final, Pogba travelled to the United States for a holiday but, on his return to France, he was keen to head home for a kickabout with his buddies. US Roissy are expected to benefit to the tune of €400,000 from Pogba's return to Old Trafford, which will help the club buy a new minibus, jerseys and washing machines - surely his new friends in the United laundry department would approve. But as is often the case, those with the most money do not have to put their hands in their pockets. One local teenager, Ahmed Diawara, described a recent game of five-a-side when they were given the pitch for an extra hour free of charge just because Pogba showed up. A nice friend to have, particularly if you're short one for a kickabout.

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