Speaking after his side’s 2-1 win over Leicester in the Community Shield at Wembley later in the day, Mourinho said he had been made aware just before kick-off that the 23-year-old midfielder was “coming home” as the United fans had been chanting during the match.
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However, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri put the deal under scrutiny on Saturday, 7 August, after revealing that the midfielder was expected to return to Italy on Monday, following the end of his holidays in America.
But from the moment he drove into United’s Carrington training complex to start his medical yesterday, so began the need to live up to the expectation to succeed which now engulfs both Pogba and Mourinho.
Shaw picked up the first winner’s medal of his career as a result and thinks Pogba’s impending arrival spurred the players on.
But the development of Pogba at Juventus since then has been so staggering that he now returns to Old Trafford as one of the most complete midfielders in the game.
“It has always been a club with a special place in my heart and I am really looking forward to working with Jose Mourinho”, Pogba said.
While Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked with the Frenchman in recent times, the Portuguese boss believes that the presence of stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the La Liga giants could have hindered his progression. I don’t think he meant to do it, but it just happened.
A family council was held and Pogba dropped a bombshell by quitting United for free to join Juventus in July 2012. The terms of the move included a buy-back option and Madrid exercised that option this offseason, with the fee reported to be up to 30 million euros ($33.5 million).
“I needed to take off the smallest player because we were expecting a lot of long balls”.
Mourinho will be making sure that is not the case though and with the players he has, plus the ones he has brought in – adding to the confidence levels rising and the United of old showing signs of returning, it would seem that this is something that could be easily achieved.
“I have seen him running, basketball, he does everything, so he must be fit”.
He will eclipse Gareth Bale as the world’s most expensive player.
It is remarkable to think United have spent more than £100m on re-signing someone Sir Alex Ferguson allowed to leave for peanuts in 2012.
Clubs usually pay record amounts of cash on strikers or attacking midfielders who can guarantee goals and regular game-changing moments.
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United have not challenged strongly for the Premier League title since Ferguson led them to the trophy in 2013 before ending his glittering 26-year reign as manager at Old Trafford.
