Juventus’ director of football has spoken out on rumours linking the club with a stunning move for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba. Pogba started his professional career at United but left for Juventus in 2012. Two years ago he returned to Old Trafford for a then-world record transfer fee of £89million. But the France World Cup-winner is already being linked with another move and is said to be pushing to leave the Red Devils ahead of the January transfer window.
Pogba’s relationship with Mourinho reached its nadir earlier this week when the 25-year-old midfielder was told he would no longer operate as the club’s vice-captain. Despite stripping Pogba of the vice-captaincy, Mourinho denied he had fallen out with the player, before the pair were filmed exchanging words in training on Wednesday morning. Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici was asked about the speculation linking Pogba with Juventus and said on Thursday: ‘He is a Manchester United player. ‘As long as he remains a Manchester United player, it’s best that I don’t talk about players at other clubs.’
Pogba and Mourinho are believed to have exchanged words at United’s training ground after the manager became concerned by an Instagram post that Pogba sent after the Carabao Cup defeat to Derby County. But Mourinho is said to have accepted Pogba’s explanation as to why it was uploaded after United were knocked out, with WI-FI issues apparently to blame for the delayed post. Nevertheless, former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has slammed Pogba over his clash with the Manchester United manager. ‘There’s a power play going on here,’ said Carragher on Sky Sports. ‘But if you’re asking me – because it looks like it’s Mourinho or Pogba – who do I see in the right between these two: Jose Mourinho.
They’ve both been there exactly the same amount of time, two years, I think Jose Mourinho has done more than Pogba in that time.
Now another question is should Mourinho be getting more out of a £90m player? Or other players? But in terms of this, I don’t know if Pogba is worth the hassle for what he gives on the pitch. ‘There’s an idea that it’s one or the other, so if Mourinho goes we’ll see a new Pogba. We won’t. I can assure Manchester United fans you won’t.
No-one plays for two years and then all of a sudden you change your manager and you’re a different player. ‘We’re seeing [right now] what Paul Pogba is as a player. He’s not as good as he thinks he is. He’s not. ‘He’s got talent, but his big problem is his understanding of the game. It’s been a problem since he came, and it’s still a problem now.’
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