Pogba near to joining United for world-record fee
MANCHESTER, England (AP): PAUL POGBA is close to joining Manchester United from Juventus for what is expected to be a world-record transfer fee.
The France midfielder has been given permission by Juventus to have a medical examination to complete his return to Old Trafford, United said yesterday. The English club made the announcement in a one-line statement under the hashtag ‘Pogback’.
Pogba left United to join Juventus in 2012, reportedly for £800,000 (now $1.05 million) in compensation. He is set to return for a fee of around €105 million (US$116.4 million), which would eclipse the €101 million that Real Madrid spent to sign Gareth Bale from Tottenham in 2013.
The statement said the medical would take place at United’s training complex, but didn’t say when.
Pogba would be the club’s fourth signing since Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal in May as manager of United, the record 20-time English champions. Defender Eric Bailly, midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic have already moved to Old Trafford this offseason.
‘IT’S AMAZING’
“Finally,” Mourinho said, when asked about Pogba’s impending arrival following United’s 2-1 win over Leicester in the Community Shield. “It’s amazing that such a good player is with us. Finally, we have him. “He comes to a winning side – a team who have won their last two matches, the FA Cup and today. He has to work hard to come (in)to the team.” Pogba’s expensive return to Old Trafford follows a bitter split four years ago. The then United manager, Alex Ferguson, accused Pogba of not showing United “any respect” and insisted he was happy to let Pogba leave. Now the Frenchman is among the brightest young talents in the game after winning four successive Serie A titles with Juventus and becoming a regular for his national team.