POGBA VISA HITCH ADDS TO TURMOIL
Star’s China tour in doubt as Real rumours grow
THE Paul Pogba saga took another twist yesterday as it emerged that he does not have a visa for Manchester United’s summer visit to China.
United insist the problem — which arose when the rest of the squad had their visas processed on Thursday — was a minor issue with Pogba’s passport and that it will be resolved.
They maintain the Frenchman will go on the tour to Australia, Singapore and China, where United are due to face Tottenham in Shanghai on July 25.
The club also reiterated that Pogba is not for sale amid growing speculation over a move to Real
Madrid. The 26-year-old is understood to have told team-mates he wants to leave for Real in the summer — one year after demanding that United chief Ed Woodward let him join Barcelona.
Woodward stood strong then and is ready to do so again, mindful that Pogba (right) still has two years on his contract.
Asked yesterday if he could guarantee that Pogba would still be a United player next season, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replied: ‘You cannot guarantee anything in football but yes, I think Paul is going to be here. I can assure you he’s very determined to succeed at Man United. Everyone looks to Paul. Could he have done better? He’s done fantastic for us. ‘He’s a leader in that dressing room and on the pitch for us. If I can guarantee, I would say yes, I can guarantee, but in life you never can. He will be here as far as I’m concerned.’ Solskjaer is trying to halt the club’s worst run in 57 years and secure a top-four finish. United face fourthplaced Chelsea at Old Trafford tomorrow trailing their opponents by three points in the table with three games to play. Solskjaer will stand by under-fire goalkeeper David de Gea for the crucial clash.
Asked if he has considered dropping De Gea, Solskjaer replied: ‘No, not at all. I trust David. He’s been the best player United have had in the last six or seven years.
‘He has been absolutely outstanding and going through tough patches is part of a footballer’s career. David will be fine, no worries.’