FERGIE’S POGBA GREEN LIGHT
No hard feelings over letting him go for free
SIR ALEX FERGUSON has given Paul Pogba’s £100million signing his approval after dining with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United’s training ground. Ferguson also mingled with the players for the first time since he retired from his role as manager three years ago. Mourinho is keen to work closely with the Scot and it is thought the legendary ex-boss has endorsed the world-record signing. It is especially significant as it was a fall-out between Ferguson and Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola that led to the Frenchman leaving Old Trafford for next to nothing. It has cost United a fortune to bring him back.
United and Juventus have agreed on the deal, personal terms of around £290,000 a week have been accepted and Pogba is reported to have had his medical in Los Angeles, where he has been on holiday.
A deal will be announced shortly and Pogba has told friends that he will be back in Manchester
next week. United play Galatasaray in Gothenburg today with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, another of their key summer signings, set to make his debut. Mourinho has praised his players for their work on the training ground this week. He told MUTV: ‘The players have been fantastic in their attitude. ‘We have done a number of double training sessions, but I am not worried about them being tired on Saturday as the reality is we have to work and are looking at the game tomorrow as one more training session because the players need minutes.’ United captain Wayne Rooney believes Mourinho will restore the ‘winning mentality’ to the club. Rooney, talking on Manchester radio station Key103 ahead of his testimonial against Everton next week, claimed Mourinho’s winning obsession has excited United. ‘He’s made great signings, they’ve gelled in really well with the squad so it’s exciting times,’ he said. ‘It’s always exciting when you get a new manager but to get a new manager in the stature of Jose Mourinho... he’s first of all great to work under and he’s brought his way of working and a winning mentality back to the club. I think Manchester United as a football club need to win. We have to win and he certainly has that winning mentality.’ Mourinho was exasperated by the chaotic pre-season tour of China this month — culminating in the cancellation of the Manchester derby and adding extra importance to Wednesday’s clash with Everton. The Portuguese gave his players the day off on Wednesday — but only after they had undergone a two-hour session at Carrington immediately after touching down from Asia.