Pogba flies out for United tour despite doubts
Midfielder on board for pre-season Australia trip Absence was feared over Real and Juventus links
Paul Pogba allayed doubts about his involvement in Manchester United’s pre-season tour by flying with the rest of the squad to Australia yesterday, despite his determination to join Real Madrid.
Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, had claimed on Friday that he was unsure if the France midfielder would be on the flight to Perth, as he reiterated his client’s desire to leave Old Trafford.
But any fears that Pogba might not show up were quashed when the Frenchman reported to United’s Carrington training base yesterday morning and was later pictured arriving on the team coach at Manchester Airport along with his team-mates.
Pogba cut a serious figure as he collected his bag off the coach and declined to engage with a fan who tried to take a picture of the two of them, looking straight ahead as he walked purposefully into the terminal. Pogba is thought to have returned only on Saturday from New York, where he was on a promotional tour with Adidas as well as doing some personal training that included sprints through Central Park.
Another player who is hoping to secure a move from United this summer, Romelu Lukaku, was also on the flight, as were new signings Aaron Wan-bissaka and Daniel James. Pogba’s inclusion in the squad is a boost for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and averts the threat of the start of the tour being overshadowed by his midfielder.
Solskjaer will still face questions about Pogba when he addresses the media in Perth on Wednesday but the manager and club would have faced a bigger problem had the player not joined the tour.
Pogba admitted last month that he wanted to leave United to seek a new challenge. His remarks – and Raiola’s subsequent comments – were not well received by United and exasperated Solskjaer, who has talked about building his team around the club’s £89 million record signing.
But United maintain that Pogba is not for sale and neither Real nor Juventus – his two main suitors – have yet to get close to making an offer that might tempt the club.
United value Pogba at around £160 million and are determined not to be dictated to, despite the risks that come with keeping an unhappy player who is such a key figure on and off the pitch.
Pogba had been granted more time off and allowed to report back later than other team-mates, who had returned for pre-season training on Monday.
Solskjaer is likely to hold talks with Pogba in Perth. The manager’s challenge will be to ensure his situation does not overshadow United’s pre-season, and that he can keep the player focused, all the more so if he is to stay.
Fred and Matteo Darmian are due to join the tour later for family reasons but Alexis Sanchez, who has been competing at the Copa America with Chile, will not take part. Academy graduates Axel Tuanzebe, Mason Greenwood, Tahith Chong, James Garner and Angel Gomes have all travelled.
United play Perth Glory and Leeds United in Western Australia before heading to Singapore, where they will face Inter Milan in the International Champions Cup. They then travel to Shanghai to face Tottenham Hotspur in the ICC.