Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed that he was ready to leave the club after his best season in 2018/19 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but had his transfer blocked by United’s management. Pogba, who joined Manchester United for £89 million in 2016, admitted that he mentally quit the club after Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho as manager.
Transfer Request and Blocked Move
In an interview, Pogba shared that after the 2018/19 season, where he scored 13 goals and provided 9 assists, he informed Solskjaer and then-executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward that he wanted to leave. While Solskjaer supported the idea, Pogba claims Woodward blocked the move, leaving him frustrated and unmotivated to continue with the club.
Pogba explained: “My head was already set on leaving, but I came back for pre-season because I wanted to be professional. I didn’t want to play for United anymore, but I had to stay.”
His Time Under Mourinho
Pogba also reflected on his tumultuous relationship with Jose Mourinho during his time at United. Describing it as a “love-hate” dynamic, he admitted that while Mourinho convinced him to return to Manchester United, their relationship deteriorated over time, leading to frequent clashes.
Pogba left Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022, rejoining Juventus, but his time back in Serie A has been marred by injuries and a recent doping ban. His ban was initially four years but has been reduced to 18 months, allowing him to return to football in 2025. Rumors suggest Pogba is now in talks for a move back to Ligue 1.
