Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed that he “wanted to leave” the Premier League club in the summer of 2019, three years before he eventually returned to Juventus.
The French World Cup winner spent three years in United’s youth system before coming back to Old Trafford as the most expensive player on the planet in 2016. Pogba struggled to live up to unrealistic expectations during his second spell at United, but a rare burst of sustained fitness underpinned his impressive performances in the 2018/19 campaign.
Jose Mourinho, who had a strained relationship with Pogba throughout their shared time in Manchester, was replaced in mid-season by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The former United forward shifted the talented Frenchman into a more advanced position, giving him the scope to record 13 Premier League goals and nine assists – comfortably the most prolific campaign of his English career.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Pogba revealed for the first time that he went to the club’s chief executive Ed Woodward in search of a transfer. “The year Jose went and Ole came, it was my best season at United but after the last game I told Ole and Ed Woodward that I thought it was my last year and that I wanted to leave,” he said.
Despite Pogba’s best efforts, United finished a lowly sixth that season, more than 30 points adrift of the league’s leading duo, Manchester City and Liverpool.
“I was 27 back then,” Pogba wistfully remembered, “it didn’t work out the way I wanted. I gave my best but I didn’t see the club going upwards. Manchester City and Liverpool were better than us and they were improving. Ole said yes [to me leaving] and that he would talk to Ed. My head was already that I wanted to go but I came back for pre-season because I wanted to be professional.”
“I spoke to Ed to try to make a move but he blocked it. I didn’t want to play for United anymore but I had t be professional. Mentally i wasn’t there and then i got injuries.”
Pogba started new campaign with two assists in a 4-0 victory over Chelsea before sustaining an ankle issue which would plague rest of his season.Fitness issues have derailed midfielder’s subsequent career,following him when eventually left united join Juventus on free transfer
The 31-year-old was handed by four-year doping ban August which subsequently reduced eighteen months appeal.Pogba will be able get back pitch Juventus March2025,but reportedly looking another move away