IN THE POGHOUSE!
Star to miss Arsenal game as United tire of his antics
PAUL POGBA is set to miss Manchester United’s game at Arsenal tonight as the club grow increasingly frustrated with the Frenchman and his agent Mino Raiola.
Pogba was absent again when the United squad arrived at the Landmark Hotel in London last night and is not expected to play at the Emirates.
The 26-year-old missed Saturday’s win at Burnley having told manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he needed more time to recover, after making two appearances from the bench following three months out with an ankle injury.
However, Pogba then caught a flight to France to see his brothers Mathias and Florentin play in a charity match on Sunday, raising further questions over his commitment. It is understood the United boss is tired of Pogba’s antics.
The midfielder’s return to action was put on hold due to illness, but he then posted a video of himself dancing at Florentin’s wedding outside Paris. Pogba
was previously filmed playing basketball with NBA star Jimmy Butler in Miami when he was meant to be recovering from his ankle surgery. Solskjaer brushed off questions about that incident but the player’s future at United has been in serious doubt for some time. There is continued speculation over a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona, with Pogba keen to leave three and a half years after returning to Old Trafford from Juventus in a then world record £89million deal. United insist Pogba will not be sold in the January transfer window but recent developments raise the possibility that could change. Raiola claimed yesterday that his client could still be in Manchester this time next year. ‘Yes, but in a club that I hope fights for the league and hopefully the Champions League,’ said Raiola on Sky Sports. ‘Is that strange? Am I the only one who’s worried? I think everybody that is in love with Manchester United is worried about it. ‘I’m worried about that for my player. As long as Paul is at Manchester United, he wants to win trophies with Manchester United. Clearly they are not where they think they should be.’ However, Pogba’s agent struck a less conciliatory tone when discussing the situation with Italian newspaper
La Repubblica. ‘Pogba’s problem is Manchester United. It’s a club out of touch with reality and without a sporting project,’ said Raiola, who was blamed for the breakdown of striker Erling Haaland’s move to United from Red Bull Salzburg at the weekend. ‘I wouldn’t take anyone there. They would even ruin Diego Maradona, Pele and Paolo Maldini. Paul needs a club and a squad — one like Juventus was before.’ With Pogba proving so unreliable and Scott McTominay sidelined for up to eight weeks with knee ligament damage, United may decide they have to keep Nemanja Matic beyond this transfer window. The Serbia midfielder was thought to be surplus to requirements and in talks with AC Milan, but United could keep Matic and allow James Garner to go out on loan if the teenager can be guaranteed first-team football.