Paul Pogba is leaving Manchester United and probably returning to Juventus, the same club that took him away from Old Trafford for free and sold him there for what was a world record transfer fee in 2016.
Six years after Manchester United, under Jose Mourinho spent £89 million to bring him back to the club, it is without a doubt a regrettable decision as the Frenchman never really played the class that made United reunite with him.
Maybe the club did benefitted from their percentage on the player’s image rights and other endorsements he won them but it was because of the his brilliance in the pitch that triggered their interest in him, but his six years in England was a shadow of who he we in Italy.
The Midfielder endured a really below par spell at United, maybe that is after all the true definition of his player. Whilst struggling at United, he is still class whenever he heads home to team up with his international teammates.
Pogba, who left United in 2012 having turned down new contract offer from the club, despite Sir Alex Ferguson claiming that the club did try to tie him down but the player was reluctant and ended up moving on to Juventus.
It appeared United has become a victim of the same scenario they’ve inflicted on Paul Pogba’s former club, Le Havre, who has also been accused of the same topic by Pogba’s first club, Torcy, although this time, Juventus has no blame whatsoever.
It came as a shock to Le Havre in 2009 when Paul Pogba announced he is leaving the club to join Manchester United academy whereas there was an agreement between Le Havre and Paul Pogba’s entourage that the player is tied to the club until at least the summer of 2010.
The French club threatened to sue United and club President Jean-Pierre Louvel accused United of luring the player with money, alleged to be £87,000 and a house but the player refuse the allegations.
In the same vein, Le Havre was also accused by Pogba’s former club Torcy of using the same tactics it purported Manchester United to have used when the club acquired Pogba from its youth academy.
Nonetheless, Pogba eventually became a United player after so much heartaches, only to see him leave and become a world class player elsewhere.
It was success from the onset for the 2013 golden boy winner in Italian top flight, thriving in a Juventus midfield that dominated the Serie A and won the Scudetto in all the seasons he spent with the Old Ladies, which was four a years spell.
Making over 170 appearances across all competitions in four seasons, Pogba rose to the status of world class when he featured in the UEFA Team of the year and FIFA FIFPRO World XI in 2015 on the back of winning the best young player at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
He was a mainstay in Juventus’ success, featuring in the Serie A team of the season on three occasions and was more involved in the attack in his final season for I Bianconerri, which prompted United to make him the most expensive player.
Real Madrid was also heavily interested in signing Pogba and when United beat them to his signature, it was thought that he’s rejoined because of his love for the club. That would be the least of the reasons anyone would think of now.
His first season back in England was a productive one, and he was instrumental as Jose Mourinho’s United won the Europa League and the Carabao Cup whilst also making 30 league appearances.
Their missing out on a Champions League place was atoned for with the Europa League success which in turn secured an automatic spot for them in the Champions League the following season.
The following season saw them finish second to Manchester City in the league but with their city rivals ousting them by 19 points, it was obviously not a two horse race and there was no chance they really compete for the title.
Pogba, being an influencer in games as evidence in his time with Juventus, struggled with inconsistency at United. He was not the player any team would play £89 million to sign though reverse is the case when he’s away with Les Blues.
Whenever United struggle to get on in games, he is always found wanting. His attitude on and off the pitch has attracted criticism from the fans and his contract saga spoke a lot about his commitment to the club.
Paul Pogba was responsible for 18 percent of the penalties Manchester United have conceded since returning to the club in 2016. He look lost and uninterested in most games.
To see their record signing return to playing at his best, the Old Trafford club has spent around £103 million on midfield additions to complement the 29-year-old but in the end, the Pogba United relationship won’t just work out well.
The former Manchester United academy star earned up to £218.93 million in wages and bonuses in his stay at the club whilst also got another £3.8 million after the end of his contract for royalty and loyalty fee, he has surely not done enough for the club.
With his departure now official, he’ll leave after playing over 200 games of predominantly average performances and succeeding elsewhere will arise another question of if he was ever made for United.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi