The Curious Case of Paul Pogba

On the eve of one of Manchester United’s biggest games of the season, Mino Raiola sent the football world into a frenzy when he came out with a statement that said his client, Paul Pogba, wanted out of the club at the nearest opportunity. In typical fashion, the World Cup winner had the spotlight on him once again, and not for the right reasons.

Pogba was left out of the starting lineup in Germany, Manchester United lost to RB Leipzig in dramatic fashion, resulting in United’s exit from the Champions League. Raiola’s comments certainly had a part to play in the result and the performance of the team, and that incident felt like the final nail in the coffin that is the toxic love story between United and Pogba, with fans finally closing the chapter on the once-loved, enigmatic No.6.

Fast forward a month down the line, and Pogba’s deflected volley away at Burnley sends United top of the Premier League. A series of top performances (most recently against Liverpool in the FA Cup 4th round) led fans and teammates alike to sing his praises, and it seems that United’s vision when they re-signed him for a then-world record fee in 2016 is finally coming to fruition. 

But all of this continues to unfold under the ever-changing circumstances at the club. Managerial changes came with complete shifts in mentality, playing conditions, tactical variations as well as results; with both United and the Frenchman having to bide their time to reap the rewards of the move.