When the name Paul Pogba and Manchester United are mentioned in the same breath, most jump to the conclusion that the Mancunian club were foolish to let the Frenchman go without a fuss. While this is true, and Pogba's talents were woefully neglected at Old Trafford, what is often forgotten is the predicament of the club found itself in when acquiring his services. It appeared that Man United made more of an effort to sign the player than they did to actually use him, with Pogba's former club Le Havre threatening to bring them to court in the summer of 2009. The president Jean-Pierre Louvel had levelled that the club had promised Pogba £87,000 and a house to sign for the Red Devils - strictly against FIFA policy. Manchester United were cleared of any wrongdoing in October of that year, with Le Havre officials having reached a settlement with the club in June 2010. Having almost besmirched he club's good name one would have thought they might as well have used him after all the fuss. He played just seven times for the first team, before indignantly slamming the door on his way out, signing for Juventus in the summer of 2012. During his time at the club, the Manchester United boss had grown weary with the Frenchman's tempestuous agent, who he felt was offering the teenager bad advice.
''He's got an agent who's obviously become a bit difficult but we're negotiating with this agent and we want this boy to stay. You don't need to chase money at a club like Manchester United, it will eventually find you.'' - Sir Alex Ferguson, December 2011.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
