We have 22 and we are going to have 23. You are right, I don’t like to speak about other clubs or players from other clubs. Other managers like to do that, they like to speak about my club and my players. I am very pragmatic on this.
“All that matters is what happens in my house and not in my neighbours’ house. Paul Pogba is a Juventus player until he isn’t, officially, so we stay like this. The market closes on Aug 31 but I think my club is trying to do everything to close our market before the 14th.”
“[We have signed] A young defender that needs time to be a top one but who has top potential. A creative player that we know the quality, a super striker, and we are going to get a very good midfielder.”
Does that all but confirm a done deal?
Pogba deal stalling… why?
Just when we thought a deal was edging closer, various reports – including those in the Daily Star, claim that it is now Juventus who are stalling this monumental deal because they want to have his replacement lined up.
While this is understandable as Pogba was such a huge player for them, can’t they think of us? They’re killing the mood, drastically.
Blaise Matuidi is the latest midfielder to be linked with the Serie A Champions, as is Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic.
All we ask is that they get their business done quickly, because, hasn’t the Paul Pogba affair been dragged out for long enough already?
Recap of yesterday’s news
According to various sources – including Sky Sports News – Paul Pogba ‘will be a Manchester United player by Sunday.’
Squawka also claimed that the the terms for Pogba’s return were agreed on Wednesday, totalling a £108.9m package, with the 23-year-old in line to earn more than £10m-per-year after tax.
When quizzed on the topic during he press conference yesterday, Jose Mourinho said:
“All that matters is what happens in my house and not in my neighbours’ house.
“Paul Pogba is a Juventus player until he isn’t, officially, so we stay like this.
“The market closes on Aug 31 but I think my club is trying to do everything to close our market before the 14th.
“[We have signed] A young defender that needs time to be a top one but who has top potential. A creative player that we know the quality, a super striker, and we are going to get a very good midfielder.”
The million dollar question, is Paul Pogba worth £100m? Rio Ferdinand thinks so:
“It’s relative,” says Ferdinand. “The money that Man United are bringing in now, commercially, allows them to spend that money.
“For £100 million you want a player who can develop into someone who can dictate a game in his position. Can he win games on his own and drag his team over the line? Yes, he’s got the potential to do that.
“People said when I went there, ‘it’s too much money for a centre-half’. But then we won and people look back and say ‘it wasn’t that expensive’ when we won six Premier League trophies out of 12 years.
“If he goes there for £100 million and they win five out of 10 [Premier League] trophies, you’ll look back and say, ‘Well done, good business’.”
Read the full report, here.
A slightly underwhelming alternative to Paul Pogba is apparently Lassana Diarra.
But (prepared to be really disappointed, United fans) the players agent has said he will be staying at Marseille. Gutted!
According to Marca, Manchester United are tracking James Rodriguez situation at Real Madrid after the Spanish outlet claimed that he will lose his place in the side this season.
Marco Asensio is the man poised to deputise for Real in the attacking midfield position after impressing during pre-season, pushing Rodriguez further down the pecking order at the Bernebeu.
The Colombian endured a difficult campaign last season due to a combination of injury and a loss of form, and reports claim that he could hand in a transfer request before the start of the La Liga season.
It is believed that Real Madrid will demand up to £70m for the Colombian.
Meanwhile, The Mirror reported that Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named as Manchester United’s secondary vice-captain at for the forthcoming season.
The 34-year-old is now third-in-command in the Manchester United squad, and will wear the armband in the absence of captain Wayne Rooney and vice-captain Michael Carrick.
A United insider told the Mirror: “Some of the other lads, especially the young ones, are in awe of Zlatan.
“He brings a presence to the place and people look up to him after everything that he has achieved through his career.
“He has experience at the highest level and is seen as an obvious captain when the other lads aren’t on the pitch.”
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Bayern Munich chairman, believes Jose Mourinho’s treatment of Bastian Schweinsteiger could dissuade players from wanting to join Manchester United as the manager was accused of “clear bullying” that warranted a prison sentence.
[Source:- Telegraph]
