RIFT BEGAN ON THE DAY AFTER HIS £89M MOVE! EXCLUSIVE

THE relationship between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho hit the rocks before a ball had even been kicked, with the manager understood to be furious at the way the Frenchman’s £89million transfer was announced. Pogba rejoined United from Juventus in 2016 and his arrival was marked by a huge publicity campaign which Mourinho felt put the player above the club. The transfer was announced at 12.35am on United’s social media feeds using the hashtag ‘Pogback’ while an online music video featuring Pogba and rapper Stormzy — put together by kit sponsor adidas — quickly went viral. Further video of Pogba arriving in the UK by private jet and touring the club’s training complex was released. Mourinho is understood to have been unimpressed by the fanfare for Pogba’s return, which was meticulously planned. A club source explained: ‘Jose is all about the team and he was seriously annoyed by the whole announcement. He feels that no player should be bigger than the club and what appeared to be a branding exercise — making it about Paul Pogba and not United — did not impress him.’ Although efforts have been made to repair their relationship, including Mourinho making the World Cup winner captain, it now appears doomed. ‘Attempts have been made on both sides,’ the source said. ‘But there have been a number of occasions where Jose has been annoyed by what he’s seen from Paul. ‘It got off to a bad start and it does not appear to be getting better.’