Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has slammed Manchester United’s world record move for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
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The France worldwide is expected to become the world’s most expensive footballer in the coming days amid reports that United are willing to pay £90m for the 23-year-old’s services.
“Is it a done deal?”
And speaking after their 2-1 win over Leicester City in Sunday’s Community Shield, Mourinho was confident Pogba would be the last missing piece of the puzzle.
“Finally we have him. He has to work hard to come to the team”. If you want to be the best player in the world, I think if you go to Barcelona or to Real Madrid, you are in trouble. “If he is here before the Premier League [starts] to give us time to work that is good”. Hopefully everything goes well in the medical, which I think it will.
In his post-match press conference, Mourinho confirmed that Pogba was on his way, but claimed to know nothing of the transfer fee, which is expected to break the £100 million barrier for the first time in history. Money he will get from any big club.
The transfer eclipses what Real Madrid paid to United and Tottenham for Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but Mourinho believes it should be a cause for pride not embarrassment.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane lobbied Florentino Perez to sign Pogba but the club refused to compete with United for the France worldwide.
Manchester United confirmed earlier today that Pogba has been given permission by Juventus to have a medical with the club.
The 23-year-old follows in the footsteps of Zlatan Ibrahimvoic as Jose Mourinho’s Old Trafford revolution takes shape.
Pogba would have been the answer to a United midfield that has long needed heavy investment since the retirement of Old Trafford hero Paul Scholes, with Ferguson, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal all failing to adequately address the problem.
Mourinho had said he needed four new players before the start of the season.
“United have spent quite a lot of money in the last two or three years without getting anywhere and I think it is important they made a statement in terms of this signing to show what they are”.
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Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, also represents striker Ibrahimovic, who signed for United on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain, and midfielder Mkhitaryan, who joined from Borussia Dortmund.
