Manchester United beat Real Madrid to Paul Pogba signing
And it was the player’s own desire to come ‘home’ plus Jose Mourinho’s appointment as Old Trafford boss that swung the deal United’s way, despite Real’s status as Champions League winners.
It is also understood that moves to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford started as early as 2013 – a year after he left as an 18-year-old – with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward rebuilding a relationship with Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola, whose fall-out with former Sir Alex Ferguson had contributed to the player leaving in the first place.
United’s scouts continued to monitor Pogba’s progress in Turin, noting his season-by-season improvement into one of the world’s best midfielders. But it is understood both David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal were reluctant to splash so much cash on one player, preferring to use it recruit a number of players to strengthen the squad.
As for his controversial decision to leave United as a free agent in 2012, he added: “It was a mutual decision between the club and me and the right thing to do at that moment. Now it’s time to go back and forward – Old Trafford here I come!
“I made a decision guided by my heart and nothing else. This transfer took so long because it was a huge decision and involved lots of thinking and work. The wait was as annoying to me as it was to everyone else.”
He said: “When I heard some of the managers criticising, I don’t think they will ever have this problem because, to have this problem, you need to be at one of the top clubs in the world. So at Manchester United it can happen.”
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