August 19 – The world’s most expensive footballer is set to make his second spell debut for Manchester United tonight as the Premier League introduces live televised Friday matches.
French international Paul Pogba recently rejoined United for a world record fee of £89m and will have the eyes of the world on his performance against Southampton.
“He is one of the best midfielders, maybe I could say the best midfield player in the world,” said United boss Jose Mourinho ahead of the eagerly awaited fixture, perhaps with an element of exaggeration.
Pogba, 23, missed United’s opening 3-1 win at Bournemouth last Sunday because of suspension, but Mourinho added: “His motivation is really high.”
In an exclusive interview with Sky ahead of the game, Pogba said that even when was at Juventus, “a part of my heart” was still at Old Trafford and revealed he may have stayed in Italy had Mourinho, who has spent £156 million in the hope of reviving United’s title winning fortunes, not replaced Louis van Gaal.
“I played four years in Italy, if he’d come two years after I’d left [United], maybe I wouldn’t have come, I would have stayed at Juve. I think it was the right time for him to come, and for me to come back.”
Pogba also reflected on France’s heartbreaking defeat to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final.
“We were all sad, we couldn’t believe it. I think our mistake was that we thought we were going to win it. Everything was too perfect. We were like: ‘Guys, this is our turn, we cannot lose.’ But we lost because of some details. Big details. People were happy when Cristiano Ronaldo left the field, I was unhappy. It gives the team a lift.”
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