Paul Pogba has opened up on his disagreement with Jose Mourinho during their time together at Manchester United, while reflecting on his stint at the club.
The French midfielder was signed by Mourinho in a £89.3 million deal from Italian side Juventus back in 2016, which was a world record fee for a footballer as of that time.
While the pair enjoyed a successful and peaceful spell in their first campaign together, their relationship turned sour into the second season, with the Portuguese manager eventually leaving after he was sacked in 2018.
Pogba, who later left United in 2022, explained that the constant media attention played a part in the fallout he experienced with Mourinho at Old Trafford.
“I don’t have any problem with any coaches, you know”, the Frenchman said.
“I always respect, always respect. They tell me what to do. They are the boss. That’s the truth. They are the boss. They decide if you play or not.
And we were very cool at the start, very cool, sending messages and stuff like that. He’s a really funny man. He’s a funny guy, he’s really special, to be honest”, Pogba added.
The pair won the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League during their first season together, with Pogba playing a major role in United’s success that season.
“And after a time, I think the injuries created that,” Pogba explained.
“And, you know, when always the media ask him questions about me, maybe makes him a bit like, okay, is he done? This is the problem also with me, like a lot of people they love to ask about me.
“Always Paul, Paul, Paul. And that probably pissed him off”, he concluded.
Pogba has endured an injury-hit spell with AS Monaco, whom he joined last summer and could end up leaving the club at the end of the season.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
