Former Juventus attacking midfielder Jose Altafini sparked controversy today when he claimed that Manchester United star signing Paul Pogba has not improved over the past two seasons.
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British media said United splashed out a world record fee of 89 million pounds ($115.98 million) on the 23-year-old, eclipsing the 100 million euros ($110.84 million) Real Madrid paid for Welshman Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.
Coming from Serie A, Pogba will be no exception to the susceptibility that comes with switching leagues, however he will have some experience from his previous stint with United back in his academy days and brief first team appearances before moving on to Juventus.
Jose Mourinho, who led United to a record 21 Community Shield trophy last weekend, has welcomed the midfielder to the club, saying he sees Pogba as an essential part of the United team in the years to come.
Emerging from the shadows, Paul Pogba – a red devil emblazoned on the side of his head – removed his hood, looked straight into the camera and uttered the words Manchester United fans had been waiting to hear: “I’m back”. “Goodbye means nothing, it is the time we spent together that matters”, Pogba tweeted on Monday. “He is quick, strong, scores goals and reads the game better than many players much older than he is”, Mourinho said.
“I’m back home and it’s something insane, it’s really insane, I can not explain”, he said.
“But I feel the time is right to go back to Old Trafford”.
Raiola did not respond to requests for comment for this article but posted “THE MAN IS UNITED” on his Twitter feed earlier in the day as the Pogba deal was confirmed. “If you want to be the best player in the world, if you go to Barcelona or Real Madrid you are in trouble because I don’t think the other two big guys (Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo) will let you”, stated the famous coach.
“My public image does not interest me because in the world there is always someone who loves you and who hates you for what you say or do”, he told Italy’s Corriere dello Sport last month. United have seen it as an advantage that Pogba still has friends at the club as well as in the city. My deepest respect to the clubs who considered having me.
Pogba is likely to make his debut in Manchester United’s opening English Premier League game against Bournemouth on August 14.
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Wilson believes the arrivals of Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has given United two “iconic players” they have been missing since Ronaldo and David Beckham were on their books.
