He definitely wants out, doesn’t he?
Paul Pogba has suggested that he could be looking for a “new challenge” away from Old Trafford.
“For me I have been for three years in Manchester and have been doing great,” the Manchester United midfielder told reporters in Tokyo on Sunday. “Some good moments and some bad moments, like everybody. Like everywhere else.”
“After this season and everything that happened this season, with my season being my best season as well … I think for me it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else.”
“I am thinking of this: to have a new challenge somewhere else.”
Speculation that the World Cup-winning midfielder wants out of Old Trafford for a second time in his career has refused to die down since United’s disappointing end to the season, with Real and former club Juventus both heavily linked.
Though United have indicated he is not for sale, Spanish outlet ABC have reported that Pogba is planning to submit a transfer request.
ABC also suggested that should that request be rejected, Pogba will threaten to go on strike to secure a move away.
Though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to want to build his new-look United side around Pogba, the midfielder is believed to have his heart set on a move to the Bernabeu where he will have the chance to play under his idol, Zinedine Zidane.
Despite Juve’s interest – and willingness to send players in the opposite direction as part of any deal – Pogba reportedly prefers the idea of a move to Madrid over a return to Turin.
United are said to want a fee of around £160m for Pogba, something which may prove problematic for Real, given their free-spending start to the summer.
Paul Pogba first left Manchester United in 2012 to join Juventus, but returned to Old Trafford in 2016 for a then-world record transfer fee on £89 million.
