The Paul Pogba addition to Manchester United finally became official today as the club announced his medical.
The club did so with a catchy and clever hashtag, and thus #Pogback became one of the hottest topics on Twitter (here is a link to some of the better Tweets today) this Sunday. Right now you have to think that the Red Devils have the strongest side on paper, and the league title is pretty much there for the taking. Manager Jose Mourinho hailed the arrival of Pogba and extolled all the virtues of the Juventus midfielder.
“It’s an amazing situation that such a great player is with us. Finally we have him,” said Mourinho.
“He comes to a winning side, who have won the Cup Final and the Community Shield. He has to work hard to come to the team. I only heard this information just before the game.”
“United is the perfect club to bring him to the level he wants to be,” Mourinho continued.
It is expected that Pogba could be unveiled late Monday, or perhaps on Tuesday. United beat out Real Madrid for the Frenchman’s services, and Mourinho offered his ideas for why that happened.
“The Premier League is the perfect habitat for that. If you want to be the best player in the world, if you go to Barcelona or Real Madrid you are in trouble because I don’t think the other two big guys [Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo] will let you.”
“Here he is in the most seen, worldwide, championship which is absolutely incredible, with a team which wants to bring Manchester United to the top again. We have everything to give him and we know the reasons why he wants to come to us.
“Money he would get at any big club. He comes because he knows the club, knows the city, many of the players and wants to be an important part of the project. Hopefully everything goes well.”
The #Pogback deal is expected to break the world transfer record, with a fee anywhere from £93 to £100 million; depending on the source reporting it. Mourinho doesn’t see why there should be any controversy or issue with the exorbitant spending.
“I don’t think Real were upset when they broke the record with Gareth Bale or Cristiano. I don’t think it’s a reason to be sad — it’s a reason to be proud,” The Special One continued.
“Football is crazy and the market has become crazy. What you think this season is crazy, you realize three years later it’s not crazy any more.
“There are players who cost £10m who are super expensive because they’re players [who are worth] £500,000 or £1m. What is expensive and not expensive in football? I don’t know any more. I just know he is a big player.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.