POGBA DECIDES AGAINST JOINING CITY
LONDON. - Paul Pogba has told Manchester City he will move elsewhere when his contract expires this summer.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed last week that City were interested in the midfielder with the World Cup winner set to become a free agent in July.
But it appears Pogba is not prepared to swap United for City because there is an offer on the table from a different club which he prefers, according to The Athletic.
The report claims that Pogba’s team have let City know that he does not intend to join them, although there hasn’t been a final decision.
The 29-year-old is set to leave Old Trafford when his contract runs out. His second spell at the club, following a then world record move worth £89million in 2016, has not been going according to plan.
Pogba has failed to deliver and struggled for consistency as the Red Devils have continued to underperform following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.
During his second period the Frenchman has flirted with a move to Real Madrid but their interest has waned as Pogba’s impact at club level has dwindled, although they have been long-term admirers.
City manager Pep Guardiola is looking for a central midfielder to replace the versatile Fernandinho, who is likely to exit when his deal expires this summer.
Former Liverpool midfielder and now pundit Jamie Redknapp encouraged a deal between Pogba and City on Sunday.
“It would be an incredible move,” he told on Sky Sports. “It would be one I wouldn’t have seen coming. You have to weigh it up.
“On a free transfer, he’d have a point to prove because he’s taken a lot of stick at United.
“There’s a few times I’ve watched games between United and City and he [Guardiola] always goes over to have a bit of dialogue.
“He obviously respects him as a player, there was talk a few years ago that he might have gone for him.
“No matter what you say about Paul Pogba, it’s a free transfer - high wages of course but that’s not a problem for Man City - you would take him in a heartbeat.
“He adds a lot to this team and I think he’d be hungry to come and show what he can do.
“He lives in the area, I think it would be an incredible move. It would be a brave move, but I’d love to see that in the Premier League. I think it would make sense all round.
“He would have to be completely different to the player we’ve seen at United, that’s a fact. He’d have to play a lot more like he does for France. I think it’s a no-brainer. He scores goals, he adds so much to the team.”