Paul Pogba disclosed the reasons behind his desire to leave Manchester United back in 2019. After returning to the club from Juventus in a record £89 million transfer, Pogba spent six years at Old Trafford. During this period, he scored 39 goals and provided 48 assists in 226 appearances. He also secured victories in major competitions, winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his first season under the management of Jose Mourinho, and was later named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the 2018/19 season, which he described as his “best” with the club.
Paul Pogba said, “I will tell you something I’ve never told anyone. The year Jose went and Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] came, it was my best season at United but after the last game I told Ole and Ed Woodward that I thought it was my last year and that I wanted to leave. I was 27 back then, it didn’t work out the way I wanted. I gave my best but I didn’t see the club going upwards. Manchester City and Liverpool were better than us and they were improving. Ole said yes (to me leaving) and that he would talk to Ed. My head was already that I wanted to go but I came back for pre-season because I wanted to be professional. I spoke to Ed to try to make a move but he blocked it. I didn’t want to play for United anymore but I had to be professional. Mentally I wasn’t there and then I got the injuries.”
Despite his desire to leave and the personal challenges he faced, Pogba ultimately remained with United until the end of his contract in the summer of 2022. In his final three years at the club, he made only 89 appearances and his goal-scoring record dwindled to just eight goals. Upon the expiration of his contract, Pogba returned to Juventus, marking the end of his tumultuous second spell at Manchester United.
