Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was reportedly offered to both Real Madrid and Manchester City by agent Mino Raiola in January.
According to a report by Sports Illustrated, Manchester City aren’t the only club that were offered the chance to buy Paul Pogba in the January transfer window. Mino Raiola also offered the Manchester United superstar to Real Madrid, who weren’t interested in signing the Frenchman.
Pogba’s second coming at Manchester United has been sort of a mixed bag, having blown hot and cold over the last two seasons while also showing just why he is considered to be among the best midfielders in the world.
His performance against Manchester City in last weekend’s derby was a perfect indication of that, with the player being a passenger in the first half before changing the game in the final 45 minutes with a display of fantastic all round football as Manchester United came from behind to beat their neighbours.
The buildup to the game though, threatened to send Pogba’s spell at Manchester United spiralling into uncertainty as Pep Guardiola claimed that Manchester City had been offered the player in January. It now looks like the Frenchman was also offered to Real Madrid in the same transfer window.
Pundits have constantly opined that Pogba would fit better in Pep Guardiola’s system at Manchester United than he has under at Manchester United Jose Mourinho. At the Etihad, he could prove to be a long-term replacement for David Silva, who is on the wrong side of 30, and create a twin-pronged creative force alongside Kevin De Bruyne.
At Real Madrid, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are heavily linked with a move away from the Bernabeu in the summer, with Zinedine Zidane set to overhaul his squad. Pogba could, thus, be a viable target for Los Blancos, who could have a long-term solution in midfield in the Frenchman.
But, Real Madrid are not interested in signing the player, largely because they do not want to shatter their wage structure by bringing the highly paid Frenchman to the Spanish capital. It is believed that Manchester United aren’t interested in selling Pogba either, having also made it clear that they will not sell to Manchester City.
It will now be interesting to see if Pogba attracts interest from other clubs in the summer, with a move to either Manchester City or Real Madrid unlikely. What still keeps his Manchester United future under a cloud is Mino Raiola’s offer to other clubs, although Pogba himself seems to be content at Old Trafford.
