Ferdinand was Pogba’s team-mate during the midfielder’s first spell at the club – and the former England defender is backing him to have a big impact at United in the seasons to come. He was pictured at the club’s Carrington training ground after arriving on a private jet from Nice.
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Paul, 23, has been with Juventus for four seasons, making 124 appearances and scoring 28 goals.
The 23-year-old has completed a return to Old Trafford for a reported world-record fee that could reach £93million, having signed a five-year deal.
Instead, United released a statement on their website and then published an interview Pogba had given to MUTV.
Pogba is looking forward to working with a serial victor like Mourinho and said: “I spoke with a lot of players when he was at (Real) Madrid – I spoke with (Alvaro) Morata, (Raphael) Varane – and they all told me he is a coach for me, he will make me improve a lot because he makes you work harder”. I have many friends there but it had to return to the Old Trafford.
Asked about the Portuguese, Pogba said: “I spoke with a lot of players when he was at (Real) Madrid – I spoke with (Alvaro) Morata, (Raphael) Varane – and they all told me he is a coach for me, he will make me improve a lot because he makes you work harder”.
“I know the discussion, I understand that, sometimes in football, things happen and the club breaks the record, but this is only possible at clubs like Man United”.
New United manager Jose Mourinho has been working on rebuilding the spine of his team following two disappointing years for the club under Louis Van Gaal, and the £89 million transfer ($115.7 million) should see him conclude his transfer business for the summer.
A 19 year-old Pogba signed for Italian side Juventus, where he quickly blossomed into one of the most exhilarating talents in world soccer.
Mourinho – who has also signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitarayan and Eric Bailly following his appointment as boss in May as he looks to revive United – added that he is “really happy” with his squad. “He is going to be a top player for years to come and he will make a big difference to United’s title chances”. “Goodbye means nothing, it is the time we spent together that matters”, he wrote. I bring with me a part of you and I leave with you a part of me.
On 9 July, United finally declared their official interest but there were rumours the player preferred a move to Real Madrid.
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His agent Mino Raiola said a number of clubs were interested in his client and continued to deny a deal with United had been agreed.
