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Why Real Madrid wanted Paul Pogba to join Man Utd's pre-season tour of Australia
REAL MADRID were happy Paul Pogba caught Manchester United’s flight to Australia for the club’s pre-season tour.
Paul Pogba trains in New York's Central Park
Pogba met up with team-mates for the first time this summer as a 28-man squad jetted Down Under.
United were sweating over whether their prized asset would turn up for the flight to Perth but the 26-year-old did not let them down.
Pogba was all smiles as he joined the squad, having been given time off by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The World Cup winner’s presence in Australia and Singapore for United’s 2019/20 preparations could halt a prospective move to Real Madrid.
The club are happy that Pogba turned up for the flight, however, according to Spanish newspaper AS.
The report claims Real do not want any problems in their pursuit of Pogba, including the player trying to force through a move.
It adds Zinedine Zidane “will do everything possible” to capture his compatriot this summer.
Pogba’s admiration of Los Blancos is reciprocal, dubbing it “a dream” to play under Zidane at Bernabeu back in March.
The player, who scored 16 goals and laid on 11 assists last season, followed that up by saying “it could be time to have a new challenge” in last month.
After defending Pogba’s initial flirting with Real Madrid, Solskjaer had plans to make him the fulcrum of his United revolution.
But the biggest shockwave yet came last week when agent Mino Raiola confirmed the stance of his client.
"Everyone knows the willingness of Paul to move on. We are in the process of that,” Raiola told The Times.
Man United: Players preview Australia pre-season tour
“Everyone knows what the feelings of Paul are.
“Everyone within the club, from the manager to the owner, knows Paul's wishes."
United ostensibly still want to retain Pogba and have slapped a hefty £150million price tag on him, having signed him for £89m in 2016.
Juventus are also interested in the player but do not possess the riches of Real Madrid, who are the frontrunners.