Pogba’s agent slams Scholes for comments

LONDON: Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola has hit back at Paul Scholes over his comments following Manchester United’s defeat by Brighton.

The United legend ripped into the Frenchman and claimed there is a “lack of leaders” at the club following their abject display at the Amex Stadium on Sunday.

Scholes, who represented United for almost 20 years, was critical of United’s display on the south coast, but reserved much of the blame for Pogba.

The Frenchman was named captain for the second game running in the absence of Antonio Valencia, but failed to impress despite scoring a late consolation from the penalty spot.

“There’s a lack of leaders in the team,” Scholes told Optus Sport. ‘We thought Paul Pogba might be the ideal candidate to be that leader but he wasn’t there today. He had another really poor game. He’s so inconsistent.

“Pogba’s playing the ball out of play, he’s overhitting passes, he’s hitting passes short, he’s getting caught in possession.”

Raiola, however, took umbrage with the comments and posted an impassioned riposte on Twitter yesterday morning, claiming he would have “sleepless nights” if United sold their club-record signing.

“Some people need to talk for fear of being forgotten,” Raiola wrote. “Paul Scholes wouldn’t recognise a leader if he was in front of Sir Winston Churchill. @paulpogba.

“Paul Scholes should become sports director and advise Woodward to sell Pogba. Would be sleepless nights to find Pogba a new club @paulpogba.”

Another United icon and fellow Class of 92 graduate Gary Neville did not waste any time in weighing in on Raiola’s comments.

“Let’s hope @paulpogba leads his agent and shuts him up!,” Neville responded on Twitter minutes later.

The bitter exchange comes amid a summer of turmoil at United for the World Cup winner. The player is understood to want to leave for Barcelona after Raiola agreed personal terms with the Spanish club worth £89.5million (RM470 million) over five years.

United, however, are determined to keep their record signing.