Even Jesus wasn’t unanimously rejected...
Pogba vows to show United made mistake and says: As long as my players and family are happy, I don’t care if the others aren’t they still crucified him
PAUL POGBA has vowed to show Manchester United they made a mistake by letting him go – after accusing them of bluffing over a new deal and not making him feel “important” enough.
Pogba rejoined United for a club record £89million in 2016 and is leaving as a free agent on June 30 when his contract expires.
United did offer Pogba a new deal but in an Amazon Prime documentary, he said: “My thought process is to show Manchester United they made a mistake in waiting to give me a contract.
“And to show other clubs Manchester had made a mistake in not offering me a contract.”
Hinting why he is leaving Old Trafford on a free transfer for a second time, he said:“When you like a girl, you do everything to seduce her, you don’t wait for her to leave to chase after her.
“A player, he has to feel important in his team, his club. If you don’t have that, it’s over.”
The player and his camp blame United for not getting the best out of him, those on the other side of the debate point to his lack of motivation.
There is also the question of Pogba the brand – and how much he can monetise his image off the pitch being more important to him and his representatives than what he can achieve on it.
That much is evident in one scene in the film, where Pogba’s former agent Mino Raiola, who passed away in April, is speaking to his client on the phone about the player’s future.
Raiola said: “What is the best for you? What is the best for your family, for your career? What is the best economically? What is the best for your brand?”
Pogba himself goes a step further, comparing himself to Jesus in an egomaniacal segment where he discusses how he’s perceived.
Pogba said: “As long as my players and my family are happy, I don’t care if the others aren’t. Even Jesus wasn’t unanimously rejected, they still crucified him.”
United twice made Pogba offers to extend his deal, with offers in excess of the £290,000-a-week contract he was on.
In the documentary The Pogmentary, Pogba is seen speaking to his late agent Raiola about his frustration with his contract situation.
Raiola said: “Paul, you are in a situation which is very particular. You have no idea. You have no idea.”
Pogba replies: “Did Manchester United make a second offer?” Raiola then said: “Yes, they absolutely want you to stay. But the offer doesn’t reflect that. I told them, ‘If you want him to stay, don’t make that offer.’
“I will make them understand if they really want you to stay and they want to build a project around you, this time they have to act differently and put the money on the table.”
Pogba added: “They’re bluffing. How can you tell a player you absolutely want him and offer him nothing? Never seen that.”
Pogba, who joined Juventus when he left United for the first time in 2012, is expected to rejoin the Italian club this summer.
He starts the show saying: “A few years ago, I won the World Cup with France. I want to be among the elite, outstanding.
“Now I am at a turning point in my career. I have big decisions to make which are going to determine my future and I don’t have the right to make an error.”
● The Pogmentary launches exclusively on Prime Video worldwide today.
A player has to feel important in his team. If you don’t have that, it’s over PAUL POGBA