Paul Pogba Reveals He Wanted to Leave Manchester United in 2019
The midfielder continued to explain the mental burden that had taken place in his head with these situations and how a run of injuries really did not help him.
Former Manchester United Midfielder Paul Pogba.Photo/BBC.
By Robert Mutasi
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba revealed he wanted to leave the club as early as 2019 but was blocked by then-executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
In an interview with Daily Mail, Pogba opened up about his frustrations during that period and stated that although he wanted to move on then, he was forced to stay at the club and deal with the spell that was considered harsh.
Pogba, who signed again for Manchester United from Juventus back in 2016 for a then-record fee of £89 million, reflected in utter disappointment as he celebrated his 27th birthday. “It didn’t work out the way that I wanted and gave my best and didn’t see the club going up, he said.
According to Pogba, while Manchester United had stagnated, their rivals, including Manchester City and Liverpool, were fast catching up and that added to his frustration.
The French World Cup winner also revealed that then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær gave his okay for him to leave.
“Ole said yes and that he would speak to Ed [Woodward],” Pogba revealed.
But having been given the green light by the manager, Woodward stood in the way of his Old Trafford exit. “My head was already that I wanted to go, but I came back for pre-season because I wanted to be professional.”
Pogba says that is what motivated him to return for pre-season, even though he admits to his mental state being affected by the club’s situation.
I spoke to Ed to try to make a move, but he blocked it. I didn’t want to play for United anymore, but I had to be professional,” he explained.
The midfielder continued to explain the mental burden that had taken place in his head with these situations and how a run of injuries really did not help him. “Mentally, I wasn’t there, and then I got the injuries,” he added.
Pogba finally moved away from Manchester United in 2022 with his contract expiration and signed again for Juventus as a free transfer.
His revelations in this area offer insight into the internal struggles he faced in the final years at Old Trafford while highlighting the behind-the-scenes dynamics that ultimately affected his performance during that time.
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