The France midfielder’s relationship with Jose Mourinho has broken down significantly in recent months and tensions have risen between the pair once again this week. Following United’s draw with Wolves, Mourinho stripped Pogba of the vice-captaincy and Sky Sports‘ cameras captured a frosty conversation at club’s training ground on Wednesday morning. Mourinho was upset with the timing of an Instagram post which Pogba uploaded from Old Trafford on the night Derby knocked United out of the Carabao Cup.
The Red Devils were determined to keep hold of Pogba during the summer transfer window, amid interest from Barcelona, but the club are now increasingly resigned to losing the World Cup winner. According to The Guardian, Raiola wants to meet United in November to discuss whether Pogba will be allowed to leave in January or next summer. The Frenchman’s representative is keen to wait until November in case Mourinho is sacked in the next few weeks.
Pogba, who is tied into a deal at Old Trafford until the summer of 2021, appeared to criticise Mourinho’s cautious tactics in the wake of the side’s draw with Wolves. ‘We are at home and we should play much better against Wolves. When we are at home we should attack, attack, attack. That’s Old Trafford. We are here to attack,’ Pogba said. ‘I think teams are scared when they see Man United attacking and attacking. That was our mistake. ‘Maybe the attitude should be better and we should play better because, again, we are at Old Trafford and we should just attack and press like we did against Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal last season. ‘When we play like this it’s easier for us.’
Asked why United failed to pose more of a threat against Wolves, Pogba responded: ‘I can’t tell you because I’m a player – it’s not me. ‘I’m not the manager, I cannot say that, but obviously we should show more option of playing, but I cannot say that because I’m a player. ‘That’s my way of thinking – we should move better, we should move more.’
