Paul Pogba is Manchester United’s all time record signing (£89.3 million in 2016), and the only member of this year’s side to land on the PFA Team of the Year. However, transfer rumors are consistently swirling, with Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane openly showing interest in acquiring him.
Pogba has made the interest mutual by earlier this season admitting his admiration for Real Madrid, and there has even been a report claiming that the midfielder will force his way out. The final straw could be the altercation the Frenchman had with United supporters after Sunday’s abysmal 2-0 defeat at home to already relegated Cardiff City. (see below)
Paul Pogba receives abuse from a fan. We don’t deserve him. #mufc pic.twitter.com/tW5lkyN62b
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) May 12, 2019
Patrice Evra, Pogba’s countryman and friend, believes this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in terms of Pogba’s second stint at Old Trafford.
“I think he will leave, because you need to feel the love when you play somewhere, you need to be committed,” said Evra to Sky Sports.
“When I go to the game and I see fans shouting and swearing at players, I’m in shock. I don’t talk for Paul, whether he stays or leaves, but when you have negativity around you, you should leave,”
“I advise Paul every day. We Facetime, we talk,” said the man who scored seven goals in 273 appearances for Manchester United.
“I tell him every day what it means to wear the tracksuit, not even the shirt, just the tracksuit and what it represents. He listens to me.”
“It’s not like I’m protecting Paul but when there are incidents like with the fan, they’re killing Paul.”
Patrice Evra also pointed out Pogba’s productivity, and stated his belief that he’s one of just two current United players that are truly world class.
“He has the most goals, most assists. I know you can question his leadership and in the last few games you want more, so that’s why you can criticize him right now, but overall he has been the best player this season,” the left back continued.
Evra also believes that Pogba’s flashy personality leads to the polarizing opinions that surround him.
“Just because it’s Paul Pogba, he has haircuts, he dances, his Instagram and everything, people will criticize him while forgetting the player that he is. Only him and David De Gea can play in a big team in Europe.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.