Paul Pogba’s relationship with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho appeared to hit a new low this week. A clip of the midfielder and his manager having a tense training ground exchange emerged on Wednesday. Pogba’s former club Juventus, his hometown team Paris St-Germain and Spanish champions Barcelona are among the European clubs to be linked to Pogba. But a prospective high transfer fee could prove an issue. United paid Juve a then world record £89m for him in 2016 – but that was before Neymar’s £200m move to PSG changed the transfer market. And Pogba’s wage is thought to be about £180,000 a week.
Italian football journalist James Horncastle, who covered Pogba’s time at Juventus, is not sure the Serie A champions could afford him after spending £99m this summer on Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. “There have been reports over the last few days – Pogba has been texting his friends at Juventus,” said Horncastle. “After the effort Juventus made to sign Ronaldo, not only in terms of the fee – a Serie A record – but also having to pay him 31m euro (£27.6m) a year, it will be very difficult for them to sign Pogba. “There could be sales lined up, but it would be very difficult for them even though the general manager at Juventus, Beppe Marotta, said recently that Pogba is a ‘special case’.”
The situation at PSG is similar. Uefa has just reopened an investigation into the French champions’ finances and spending. Last summer they signed Barcelona’s Neymar for a world record fee – and added Monaco teenager Kylian Mbappe on a loan deal which became a permanent move for 180m euros (£165.7m). “PSG would want Pogba, for sure. He’s a Paris born-and-bred kid,” said French writer Julien Laurens. “The idea, like Kylian Mbappe, of bringing him home would be very appealing. They’re short of midfielders. “However, like with Juventus, with financial fair play on their back, it would be very hard – not just the transfer fee but the wages. You’re looking at easily 20m euros (£17.9m) a year or more. “I don’t think they have that money – unless Pogba stays at Manchester United beyond January somehow and Neymar goes to Real Madrid next summer, then there would be space for Pogba to come home. But apart from that I don’t see it happening.”
“Barcelona have made no contact with anyone about Pogba this summer and they made no offer. They haven’t spoken about Pogba, but of course they’d be interested if he becomes available. “They’ve spoken to (agent) Jorge Mendes about players, even though he has been closely linked to Real Madrid in the past, and they will speak to Mino Raiola, but they see him as a problem. They see the money he will be asking for is something they won’t want to pay. “It’s about reinforcing this hit-and-miss Barcelona – especially in midfield. They see Pogba as the kind of midfielder they would like to have – as long as a Frenkie de Jong from Ajax comes as well – that’s the idea they’ve got for the future. “That’s if Pogba becomes available, but they haven’t rung Manchester United or been in touch with Raiola yet.”
