Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has blamed Sir Alex Ferguson for his failure at Manchester United, where the midfielder could not make a name for himself. Pogba claimed that despite a shortage of midfielders, he was still not given a chance to play, he explained that he finally decided to leave United when Sir Alex Ferguson forced Paul Scholes out of retirement instead of letting Pogba play.
‘It was all down to Ferguson,’ Pogba told The Times. ‘I didn’t want to sign a contract as Ferguson didn’t play me, even though there were no midfielders there. He obviously thought I didn’t deserve the contract I asked for and didn’t put me in the team even though he had no midfield players, it was his choice.
‘United were short of midfield players like me, but it was the manager’s decision. I couldn’t do anything about it. I was very frustrated because he spoke to me a few times and said I was nearly there.
‘I told him: “If I don’t play then I can’t get any experience and see how far I have to go.” I played in a few cup games but he didn’t want to give me a contract and they just let me go.’
Pogba has proved his potential at Juventus. He has scored four goals in 19 appearances this season. On the other hand, he made only seven appearances for United, and that too as a substitute.
‘When I saw Scholes come back part of me was really happy as he’s a legend, but I knew it was the end for me. The manager thought Scholes had to play, not me, and after that I had to leave.
‘Maybe Ferguson will regret it now but I don’t think about Manchester United any more. I have no regrets about leaving Manchester, none at all.’
Compiled by Rida Mehtab (@RidaaMehtaab on Twitter)
I think Pogba is a great talent and I know he will be a world class player. However, leaving United is a good decision for him as for United too. United is not the type of club that Pogba expected to give him what he wanted at the age of 18. United offered him a new contract but Pogba refused to sign because he wanted more playing time and higher salary. Sir Alex Ferguson saw that as disrespectful, and he thought Pogba is rushing into being a shining star! Fergie was always full of support and praise to Pogba as were the fans! I was watching him the moment we signed him and I always though he will be the next big star of Old Trafford. Ofcourse his agent played his mind to go to another club that will guarantee him what he wanted. It’s fine, no player is bigger than the club and Pogba was one of the great prospects that did not suit Old Trafford! Good luck to him in Juve and United will have no regret of letting him go because big club remain big just like we did after Cantona, Beckham, Keane, C. Ronaldo, Tevez, Ruud … etc
Personally I think United should of loaned him out instead of selling him. We did this with the likes of Evans and Cleverley and even Wellbeck and now they are first team players for United. Pogba is only young and Ferguson knows when to play him and when he was ready to become a first team player, that’s the difference between United and Arsenal, Wenger plays the younger players to give them experience even though they aren’t good enough to put Arsenal in contention for the title. Its a shame that United have let a few players go in the time, players like Pogba, Pique, Rossi because (with the exception of Pogba at the moment) they’ve developed into quality players but I guess that’s football, you win some and you lose some.
He wasn’t sold. He declined a new contract and then signed with Juve.
If he was good enough with the right attitude he’d still be at the Red’s,He got pushed out of position by one of the greatest midfielders on the planet to be fair to him (scholes), good player, Best of Luck to him -
He’s on his way to become a great midfielder and Italy is the perfect place for him, since it’s a league of a lower overall level and he plays for the best team in the country. I think he will be a great player to play in any league in the world but, by the time he was at Old Trafford, SAF just wasn’t in a position to hit & miss with an unexperienced youngster. As i said, playing in a more “relaxed” league such as Serie A or La Liga is the best for him right now.