Normally, we don’t indulge in transfer gossip – especially not at this time of year, when the internet is absolutely full to the brim with the stuff.
But given that some (not all) Manchester United supporters are practically wetting the beds over the latest ‘news’ about Paul Pogba, we thought we’d make an exception.
By now, we all know the background, don’t we? With an already injury-ravaged midfield, Sir Alex Ferguson saw fit to overlook the Frenchman in favour of a midfield axis of nearly-retired Park-Ji Sung and right back Rafael in a league fame against Blackburn a few years ago.
Pogba, a highly rated youngster at the time, spat his dummy out, refused to sign a new deal and fucked off to Juventus at the end of that season. Since then, he’s shown the world that he’s really good at football and especially creative when it comes to changing his hairdo.
Since departing, a good number of United fans have mourned his loss and held on to a belief that he would one day return.
Now – four years on from arriving in Italy – it seems Pogba could be on the move again. So, where’s he off to? Given that some Spanish publications like to act that it’s their God-given right to spend huge fees on the world’s best players, it’s no surprise to see that Real Madrid are being strongly linked with the 23-year-old.
But some United fans refuse to give up on Pogba. And given the headline in Spanish paper AS on Saturday morning, their hopes of seeing him in the United line-up have just received a much-needed shot in the arm.
AS reckon that Jose Mourinho – a long-term admirer of Pogba – has ‘taken the lead’ in the race for his signature. Added to that, the headline claims that United are willing to splurge €120m on him (by our calculations, that’s just shy of £100m, although given recent events, it could be closer to £1bn before long).
The report adds that talks between Real and Pogba are on hold with his huge wage demands potentially scuppering a move to the Bernabeu.
Mourinho, it’s claimed, is wafting around cheque book to try and entice him back to Manchester.
Although this stinks of ‘agent trying to hurry a deal along’ it’s not stopping some of United’s supporters from daring to dream…
Happy about Paul Pogba to #MUFC trending… but would be great to see Willian of #CFC to @ManUtd , rather than James Rodriguez. #Mourinho
— Derick Nigma.. (@T3nigma) June 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/leonayinde/status/746628386404048896
Couldn't give two shits about how much we will have to pay for him. Mistake letting him go. Just hope he would like to return. #Pogba #MUFC
— Martin Poole (@Pooley_01) June 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/mufcrm/status/746515210123476992
Some are even willing to see Pogba’s agent honoured with a statue if he delivers Pogba, along with two of his other clients, to Old Trafford.
If Mino Raiola gets us Pogba, Ibra and Micki. He should get a statue outside Old Trafford.
— 𝐃𝐞𝐞_𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐨 (@denoe23) June 25, 2016
The Mino Raiola Stand at Old Trafford is forthcoming if he delivers Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan and Pogba to us this summer. #MUFC
— Rob Murphy (@roobmurph) June 25, 2016
The majority of United fans are having none of it though. Like everyone else, they’re expecting Pogba to be paraded to the Bernabeu at some point between the end of Euro 2016 and the start of next season.
