The very public bromance between Paul Pogba and Zinedine Zidane/Real Madrid has led to endless transfer speculation around the Manchester United midfielder.
The most expensive player in United history has been consistently linked this spring with a move to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu this summer, but United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer maintains that the Frenchman isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“Paul is looking forward to it, he’s a Manchester United player, one of our big performers on the big stage,” Solskjaer told a news conference today ahead of the UEFA Champions League clash against Barcelona tomorrow.
“His game against PSG was not his greatest moment. He’s only focused on playing and I cannot not see him playing for Man United next season.
“Paul at his best can run a game like this and you expect him to put his stamp on it.”
Meanwhile Pogba’s mate in midfield Ander Herrera, himself linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer, was asked how the Frenchman would fit in at Madrid.
“Pogba would be a great reinforcement for Madrid and for any team in the universe, but I hope he continues at United,” Herrera said to Diario ABC.
“He is a midfielder who has all the qualities. He heads well, can strike with both feet. He is quick, powerful, helps at the defensive end, he can go one-on-one, he provides assists and scores.”
I guess we’ll just have to “watch this space.”
Manchester United vs FC Barcelona UEFA Champions League Quarter-final FYIs
Kickoff- Wednesday Apr 10, Old Trafford 8pm
Google Result Probability- Manchester United win 26% Draw 27% FC Barcelona win 47%
Starting XI Predictions- FC Barcelona Manchester United
Recent form- Manchester United: WLLWL FC Barcelona: WWWDW
Odds- Manchester United win 11/4, Draw 27/10, FC Barcelona 21/20
Press conference video, quotes- coming Tuesday
Prediction- Barcelona 2, United 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.