Manchester United legend Gary Neville has said that the Red Devils are not in a compulsion to keep hold of any player and they can afford the departure of midfielder Paul Pogba this summer. The France international was the club’s best performer last term with 16 goals and 11 assists and he has since suggested that he could pursue a fresh challenge elsewhere.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville acknowledged that United are a better team when Pogba features in the centre of the park but the club need to sort out the future of players, who are not aligned with the club’s ambition for next season, he said: “They don’t have to keep any player. Manchester United are a better team when Paul Pogba plays but if players don’t want to be at the club – that doesn’t mean Pogba, he may want to be at the club – you have to get everybody onside and aligned with where you’re going. Ultimately, that’s the first thing Ole had to do – to work out who was going to be ready for the club moving forward. I’m still unsure on many players.”
Pogba has been associated with a potential move to Real Madrid this summer and that speculation has been further fuelled with him acknowledging that he may want a fresh challenge after three years at Old Trafford. Nonetheless, he won’t come on the cheap for the 13-time European champions and they may have to pay at least £130m to convince the Red Devils into a sale.
Pogba has two years remaining on his United contract but the club have the option of extending the deal for another 12 months. As such, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side still have sufficient time to negotiate a new contract and they may not necessarily part ways with the midfielder this summer unless a transfer request is placed.
Speaking in a press conference, Solskjaer was asked whether the midfielder would be at the club next season and he answered the question confidently saying: “I think he will be here next season. Paul has done fantastic for us. We want him to do well. He is a leader in the dressing room. If I could guarantee I would say yes. You can’t guarantee but I think he will be.”
In a report covered by BBC Sport, Zidane said that he is an admirer of the Frenchman’s abilities, given he is strong with both the offensive and defensive sides of his game. He added that he cannot comment on the speculation regarding the midfielder’s future but would welcome the chance to sign him in the future.
As a result, the winger has received plenty of criticism from the United supporters regarding his showing on the playing field but Pogba has stressed that the 29-year-old should return to his old self sooner rather than later, he told Sky Sports News: “What you have to know about Alexis is he is a hard worker.
Didier Deschamps said that reaching the final is an important achievement for the French side as they are a young team with some inexperienced players. He said that they knew beforehand that it will be hard to play against Belgium and the players had to fight a lot to win the ball.