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Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals truth over Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard ‘fight’
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has played down talk of a dispute between Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard on Manchester United’s pre-season tour.
The pair were videoed in an ostensible dispute while walking around their new surroundings on Perth on Monday evening.
Lingard seemed to get very animated towards Pogba, who was gesticulating before Victor Lindelof jumped on him behind to seemingly calm him down.
Solskjaer, in his first press conference of the tour of Australia and Singapore, put to bed claims the pair had fallen out, though.
“[Pogba] is a top professional, there have never been any problems,” Solskjaer declared.
Jesse and Pogba walking around, portrayed as fight between the two boys, but that is nothing.
“Jesse and Pogba walking around, portrayed as fight between the two boys, but that is nothing. No problems whatsoever.”
United are set to play their first pre-season game against Perth Glory on Saturday 12pm BST amid vast speculation over the future of Pogba.
The club were apprehensive the Frenchman would not even catch the flight Down Under following comments from his agent Mino Raiola last week.
“Everyone knows the willingness of Paul to move on. We are in the process of that,” Raiola told The Times.
“Everyone knows what the feelings of Paul are. Everyone within the club, from the manager to the owner, knows Paul's wishes."
Solskjaer had plans to make Pogba vice-captain this season as well as the side’s lynchpin, but United may decide to cash in on the wantaway star.
They are believed to value Pogba, who has two years left on his Old Trafford contract, at £150million.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane admires the player and has reportedly made him Los Blancos’ number one transfer target, with former club Juventus also circling the central midfielder.
Man United: Pogba and Lingard join squad in Perth
United have been training at The Waca the past few days and Solskjaer did not hint of any niggles or out-of-shape players in the squad.
“It has been very good so far, we are just getting over the jet-lag,” the Norwegian said. “It is time now for a bit of an afternoon off for the boys.
“We have been training, I am not a big cricket fan, but it is great to be able to train at this stadium.”