By Ezekiel David
Paul Pogba was signed by Manchester United in 2016 to “humiliate” Sir Alex Ferguson, according to former defender Patrice Evra, rather than for playing merit.
Pogba, a product of United’s academy, left for Juventus in 2012 after failing to secure regular playing time under Ferguson. After Ferguson retired, Pogba took off in Italy, leading United to re-sign him for a then-record £89 million.
Evra, who played alongside Pogba at both United and Juventus, expressed his doubts about the Glazer family’s intentions behind the transfer. “Manchester United brought Paul Pogba back because they wanted to humiliate Sir Alex Ferguson,” Evra stated on the Stick to Football podcast. He revealed he had advised Pogba to join Real Madrid instead.
Evra believes the move was primarily commercially driven. “The club was happy because they were selling shirts, you know the kids love Pogba – it was more commercial than anything on the pitch,” he added.
In spite of Pogba’s uneven play and off-field issues during his second stint at United, Evra frequently stood up for his countryman, blaming Pogba’s entourage’s influence and his own lack of focus for part of his actions. “It’s not about being a big fan of Paul Pogba, it’s about being his big brother,” Evra clarified.
Evra also addressed the criticism Pogba received from pundits like Graeme Souness. He revealed that Souness didn’t “hate” Pogba but found him “frustrating” due to his unfulfilled potential. Evra believes too much was expected of Pogba upon his return, leading to him being “exposed” in midfield.
After six years, Pogba left United on a free transfer to rejoin Juventus in 2022.
(Source: Daily Mail)