Paul Pogba leaves Manchester United with $6.5m bonus but will not be missed

At midday, United released a statement confirming – as expected – that Pogba would leave on a free transfer when his contract expires on June 30. It was accompanied with a video montage that summed up why he has been one of the most disappointing signings of the Glazer era.

His former club Juventus are likely to be his next destination. Much fanfare surrounded Pogba’s world-record pounds 89 million switch from Juventus to Old Trafford in 2016 but the 29-year-old’s second spell at the club went so badly that he was heckled by United’s loyal fan base towards the end of last season.

The two-minute video comprised short clips of his best performances during his six-year stint at the club. It was telling that the most heavily featured games in the montage came from his first two seasons. There was a clip of his deflected goal in the Europa League final win over Ajax in Stockholm five years ago.

The montage also contained footage of the two goals he scored in United’s famous 3-2 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in April 2018. Searching for the win that would wrap up the Premier League title, City went 2-0 up but United rallied in the second half thanks largely to the efforts of Pogba, who was unplayable that day. He was strong, creative and decisive – exactly the kind of midfield leader that United craved.

Pogba thanked United on social media. “I feel privileged to have played for this club,” he wrote on Twitter. “Many beautiful moments and memories but most importantly an unconditional support from the fans. Thank you @ManUtd.”

The sad thing for United fans is that Pogba did not produce that level of performance in any other big game.

A handful of good performances is not exactly what United had in mind when they signed a player who was described by Jose Mourinho, then the manager, in 2016 as “an unbelievable midfield player with physicality, agility, coordination and skill”.

The statement that Pogba made when he returned to United six years ago shows just how much he has fallen short of his own expectations. “I want to win the league for the first time with United because I hadn’t won the league when I left [in 2012],” he said. “The Champions League, of course, and one of my dreams is to win the Ballon d’Or.”

Instead, Pogba leaves with just Carabao Cup and Europa League winner’s medals, both obtained in the 2016-17 season. His disappointing performances for United were a world apart from his displays with France and he played a leading role in their World Cup triumph in 2018.

There is an argument that Pogba would have enjoyed a more successful time at United had he received better coaching or a clearer idea of his role in the team. Pogba and his former agent, Mino Raiola, never hid the fact that he was unhappy about being moved around the team. Pogba has played as a deep-lying midfielder, a No 10 and a left winger during his time at United but the best midfield players in the world, such as Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva at Manchester City, adapt to their manager’s demands and are willing to play in different positions.

Pogba scored 39 goals and set up 51 more in 226 appearances during his second spell at United. In the past three seasons he has been involved in 62 of the club’s 114 games.

United also confirmed that Jesse Lingard would be leaving on a free transfer. West Ham United and Newcastle United are among the clubs interested in the 29-year-old.

– The Times

Originally published as Paul Pogba leaves Manchester United with $6.5m bonus but will not be missed