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Man Utd’s stance on letting Paul Pogba leave in January amid Real Madrid interest
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has absolutely no intention of letting midfielder Paul Pogba leave Old Trafford in the January transfer window, despite interest from Real Madrid and Juventus.
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Manchester United star Paul Pogba will be staying at Old Trafford until, at least, the summer, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had previously stated that the club has no intention of selling Pogba, although the player is keen to finally leave United.
Pogba was pushing for a transfer away from the Red Devils last summer, after the club failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League.
But Real Madrid and Juventus - who were the two most likely candidates to sign the World Cup winner - were priced out of a deal by United.
Pogba was forced to continue at Old Trafford, although he’s missed most of the current season through injury.
But, although Pogba would still like to leave United, it appears that he’s not going anywhere.
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“Paul Pogba - absolutely not leaving Manchester United in January,” Ornstein told The Athletic’s The Ornstein & Chapman Podcast.
“The reason I bring it up is I’ve had loads of questions on social media despite what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said, and whether that’s just a tactic to keep his value high.
“Mino Raiola’s said it; no exit for Pogba.”
Recent reports had suggested that United were striking a swap deal with Juventus, that would see Pogba leave in January.
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Juventus midfielder Emre Can would move the away as part of the deal, as well as a £52million (€60m) transfer fee.
Pogba has been angling for a move away from United since June.
At the time, he said: “There is a lot of thinking [going on].
“I have been three years in Manchester and have been doing great.
“Some good moments and some bad moments, like everybody, like everywhere else.
“After this season and everything that happened, with my season being my best season… it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else.”
But, United boss Solskjaer claimed the Frenchman won’t be sold in the January transfer window.
“He's not getting sold in January, no,” said Solskjaer.
“He’s training but he’s not been training with us for long. He’s training and that’s a step forward for us.
“Yeah, of course [I understand all the interest around him] because he’s a fantastic player, a charismatic personality and for us we’re happy that he’s here.
“We know that we’ve got one of the best players in the world when he’s playing well, when he gets fit.”
United were eighth in the league table on Christmas Day, with the lowest points total they’ve ever accrued in the Premier League era.