After initiating transfer talks with Paris Saint-Germain, Paul Pogba appears to be on his way out of Manchester United.
The Frenchman’s contract at Old Trafford expires this summer, six years after the club shattered their transfer record by bringing him back from Juventus for a second term in an £89 million deal. Pogba is set to quit after failing to reach an agreement on extending his contract after another disappointing season in a red shirt.
Pogba, 29, hasn’t won a trophy for United since the Europa League in 2017, and the Red Devils are now in serious danger of missing out on Champions League qualification after a humiliating 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Everton. After battling injuries, the World Cup winner came off the bench at Goodison Park and has only made 14 Premier League starts this season.
With the summer approaching, Pogba is thought to be plotting his escape strategy from United, where there is still uncertainty over the hiring of a permanent manager to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Pogba has already met with PSG sporting director Leonardo, who has explained his plans to sign the midfielder, according to FootMercato.
According to the story, Pogba has indicated that he and his family would like to relocate to Paris, where he would join Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur and play alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar. Former club Juventus has also been linked with a free move, although it is unlikely that they will compete with PSG for his services.
Meanwhile, a contract extension with United appears to be off the table after Pogba turned down a huge offer in October that would have made him England’s highest-paid player. Rene Meulensteen, a former United assistant manager, believes Pogba’s time has come to depart Old Trafford, and questions whether he was ever truly suited to the Premier League.
“The word failure is a significant one, but has he lived up to the hype?” Meulensteen told Astro Sports, “I don’t think so.” “When he returned, he knew what was expected of him: to compete in the Premier League and the Champions League.
“Is he genuinely suited to the Premier League? Not everything has clicked with the players around him or the system; does he suit the Premier League?” What irritated me a little was Paul’s lack of outspokenness about his dedication to United. He’s never come out and stated he’ll return United to their rightful place in the league.”
