French
footballer Paul Pogba is set to become the most expensive footballer
in history with a £100m move to Manchester United expected to be confirmed this
week. The 23-year-old is a former Manchester United trainee but left on a free
transfer to join Juventus in Italy in 2012. Since his arrival in Turin Juventus
have won four Serie A titles in a row and he has become a superstar.
footballer Paul Pogba is set to become the most expensive footballer
in history with a £100m move to Manchester United expected to be confirmed this
week. The 23-year-old is a former Manchester United trainee but left on a free
transfer to join Juventus in Italy in 2012. Since his arrival in Turin Juventus
have won four Serie A titles in a row and he has become a superstar.
Manchester
United are set to complete the signing of Juventus star Paul Pogba for a
world-record transfer fee in the coming days, four years after he left Old
Trafford with a flea in his ear from former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
United are set to complete the signing of Juventus star Paul Pogba for a
world-record transfer fee in the coming days, four years after he left Old
Trafford with a flea in his ear from former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Since
then, the 23-year-old Frenchman has more than fulfilled the promise he showed
as a trainee at Old Trafford and getting him back will cost the Red Devils
£100m.
then, the 23-year-old Frenchman has more than fulfilled the promise he showed
as a trainee at Old Trafford and getting him back will cost the Red Devils
£100m.
So
how did Pogba, born just eight miles from Disneyland Paris in the suburb of
Lagny-sur-Marne, end up as the biggest brand in football?
how did Pogba, born just eight miles from Disneyland Paris in the suburb of
Lagny-sur-Marne, end up as the biggest brand in football?
Pogba,
who has older twin brothers who are also footballers, grew up playing for local
teams and was on the books of US Torcy when he was spotted by Ligue 2 side Le
Havre at the age of 14.
who has older twin brothers who are also footballers, grew up playing for local
teams and was on the books of US Torcy when he was spotted by Ligue 2 side Le
Havre at the age of 14.
Not
for the first time his move provoked controversy, with Torcy claiming he had
been tapped up by Le Havre.
for the first time his move provoked controversy, with Torcy claiming he had
been tapped up by Le Havre.
His
talent was obvious and scouts were soon watching him in action as captain of
the youth side which challenged for the under-16 French title, while Pogba
established himself as a French youth international.
talent was obvious and scouts were soon watching him in action as captain of
the youth side which challenged for the under-16 French title, while Pogba
established himself as a French youth international.
He was spotted by United’s David Friio,
who said: “He’s the best player of his age group in that position in the
world.
who said: “He’s the best player of his age group in that position in the
world.
Pogba agreed to move to Manchester
United in 2009, at the age of 16, although Le Havre were furious. They argued
he had signed a non-solicitation agreement so could not have any contact with
other clubs until his contract had expired. They also claimed United had
offered to buy Pogba’s parents a house with £87,000 in cash, allegations United
were later cleared of.
United in 2009, at the age of 16, although Le Havre were furious. They argued
he had signed a non-solicitation agreement so could not have any contact with
other clubs until his contract had expired. They also claimed United had
offered to buy Pogba’s parents a house with £87,000 in cash, allegations United
were later cleared of.
Pogba’s development at Manchester
United continued and he was part of a the fabled 2011 team that won the FA
Youth Cup and was expected to furnish United with its next generation of stars,
with Jesse Lingard, Ravel Morrison, Michael Keane, Tyler Blackett and Ryan
Tunnicliffe also in the ranks.
United continued and he was part of a the fabled 2011 team that won the FA
Youth Cup and was expected to furnish United with its next generation of stars,
with Jesse Lingard, Ravel Morrison, Michael Keane, Tyler Blackett and Ryan
Tunnicliffe also in the ranks.
“It seems unfeasible now that a
player so incredibly gifted only ever played three league games for the United
first team,” says the Mail, especially when everyone at the club knew of
his potential and he was being groomed as United’s next midfield general.
player so incredibly gifted only ever played three league games for the United
first team,” says the Mail, especially when everyone at the club knew of
his potential and he was being groomed as United’s next midfield general.
But things began to unravel when Pogba
was denied a Premier League debut in December 2011, with Ferguson instead
selecting full-back Rafael da Silva in central midfield. Pogba later said he
was “disgusted” by the snub, which was exacerbated when Ferguson
lured Paul Scholes out of retirement to fill the hole in midfield.
was denied a Premier League debut in December 2011, with Ferguson instead
selecting full-back Rafael da Silva in central midfield. Pogba later said he
was “disgusted” by the snub, which was exacerbated when Ferguson
lured Paul Scholes out of retirement to fill the hole in midfield.
“A saga between club and player
that grew ugly quickly did not just have the old-fashioned issue of playing
time at its core. It was about power, personality and money, too,” says
the Mail.
that grew ugly quickly did not just have the old-fashioned issue of playing
time at its core. It was about power, personality and money, too,” says
the Mail.
Pogba’s choice of agent proved to be
key. “Ferguson’s attitude towards agents was always black and white. He
either liked you or he didn’t and he certainly didn’t like Pogba’s
representative, Mino Raiola, nor indeed the amount of money he believed his
young client was worth in the terms of a senior contract that was by then under
discussion.”
key. “Ferguson’s attitude towards agents was always black and white. He
either liked you or he didn’t and he certainly didn’t like Pogba’s
representative, Mino Raiola, nor indeed the amount of money he believed his
young client was worth in the terms of a senior contract that was by then under
discussion.”
With his contract due to expire at the
end of the 2011-12 season and relations disintegrating – the player was now
training on his own – Pogba decided to turn his back on United and sign for
Juventus. The Italian club were prepared to pay him £20,000 a week, much to
Ferguson’s fury.
end of the 2011-12 season and relations disintegrating – the player was now
training on his own – Pogba decided to turn his back on United and sign for
Juventus. The Italian club were prepared to pay him £20,000 a week, much to
Ferguson’s fury.
“I don’t think he showed us any
respect at all,” he said when Pogba left, with United receiving just
£800,000 in compensation.
respect at all,” he said when Pogba left, with United receiving just
£800,000 in compensation.
But United tuned out to be the losers.
Pogba blossomed at Juventus and, playing alongside the maestro Andrea Pirlo,
helped the Turin side to its second successive Serie A title in 2013, his first
major piece of silverware. That summer, he captained France to the under-20
World Cup as his reputation grew.
Pogba blossomed at Juventus and, playing alongside the maestro Andrea Pirlo,
helped the Turin side to its second successive Serie A title in 2013, his first
major piece of silverware. That summer, he captained France to the under-20
World Cup as his reputation grew.
Another title followed in 2013-14 but
Pogba really exploded the year after, scoring a league goal every three games
to win his third and Juventus’ fourth successive title. He guided the team to a
domestic double and the Champions League final.
Pogba really exploded the year after, scoring a league goal every three games
to win his third and Juventus’ fourth successive title. He guided the team to a
domestic double and the Champions League final.
Pirlo left Juventus at the end of that
campaign and Pogba was given a more creative role in which he thrived as he won
yet another title, before helping France make it to the final of Euro 2016.
campaign and Pogba was given a more creative role in which he thrived as he won
yet another title, before helping France make it to the final of Euro 2016.
By now, he was in such demand that
United were prepared to break the £100m barrier to buy back their former
prodigy. Letting him go has turned out to be an expensive mistake for United
and one that Ferguson must be held responsible for.
United were prepared to break the £100m barrier to buy back their former
prodigy. Letting him go has turned out to be an expensive mistake for United
and one that Ferguson must be held responsible for.
“Ferguson made United billions,
facilitating their transition from a club with a turnover under £30m when the
Premier League started to one with an annual income over £500m now,” says
the website. But his decision to let Pogba go means that United are now paying
the price for the “one that got away”.
facilitating their transition from a club with a turnover under £30m when the
Premier League started to one with an annual income over £500m now,” says
the website. But his decision to let Pogba go means that United are now paying
the price for the “one that got away”.
Indeed, it was “a £99.2m faux pas
compounded by the reality United spent £120m on other central midfielders
during his four years in Italy”.
compounded by the reality United spent £120m on other central midfielders
during his four years in Italy”.
