Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed he “wanted to leave” the Premier League club in the summer of 2019, three years before returning to Juventus.
The French World Cup winner spent three years in United’s youth system before returning to Old Trafford as the world’s most expensive player in 2016. Pogba struggled to live up to unrealistic expectations during his second spell at United, but a rare burst of sustained form underpinned his impressive performances in the 2018/19 campaign.
Jose Mourinho, who had a strained relationship with Pogba during their time together in Manchester, was replaced mid-season by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. the first united The forward moved the talented Frenchman into a more forward position, giving him the opportunity to register 13 Premier League goals and nine assists – comfortably the most prolific campaign of his English career.
In an exclusive interview with Daily MailPogba revealed for the first time that he went to the club’s chief executive Ed Woodward in search of a transfer. “The year Jose left 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 I wanted to leave” , he said.
Despite Pogba’s best efforts, United finished in sixth place that season, more than 30 points behind the league-leading duo, Manchester City and Liverpool.
“I was 27 at the time,” Pogba recalled wistfully, “it didn’t go the way I wanted. I gave my best but I didn’t see the club going up. Manchester City and Liverpool were better than us and they they were better than us getting better Ole said yes (to me leaving) and that he would talk to Ed My boss already wanted to go but I came back for the pre-season because I wanted to be pro.
“I spoke to Ed to try and make a move but he blocked it. I didn’t want to play for United anymore but I had to be professional. Mentally I wasn’t there and then I got injured.”
Pogba started the new campaign with two assists in a 4-0 win Chelsea before suffering an ankle problem in September that would affect the rest of his season. Fitness problems have derailed the midfielder’s subsequent career, after he eventually left United to join Juventus on a free transfer in 2022.
The 31-year-old was handed a four-year doping ban in August 2023, which was later reduced to 18 months in case of appeal. Pogba will be able to return to the Juventus pitch in March 2025, but is reportedly looking for another move.
