Paul Pogba's agent fears ManUtd axe

18 year old prodigy Paul Pogba might be nearing Manchester United exit after the player’s agent claimed that the French midfielder’s contract situation at the club is ‘precarious’.

Pogba, who was almost certain to start in the Europa League match against Ajax at Old Trafford, was not even named on the bench and a few suggested that a row with Sir Alex Ferguson led to him being excluded. United refused to comment on the situation but the player’s agent has come out and cleared the air around his contract situation at the club. Mino Raiola said:

“It is a precarious situation. It is difficult at the moment. Manchester United want him. It is up to the boy to make some decisions.”

Pogba: Nearing United exit?

On Pogba’s absence from the game against Ajax, Raiola said:

“It is never nice for the player not to be in the squad. It is the same for [Mario] Balotelli [whom Raiola also represents.] We must keep our minds cool and heads cool. Some things are good. Some things are not good [in this situation].”

A host of Italian clubs, including Milan and Juventus, are in the race to sign the youngster. However, the agent wants to end ties with United before focusing on finding a new club for his client.

“We know there are some clubs interested in him. We must finish first with Manchester and after that we will see other options, if they are there. The club give the indication that they want to keep him and we are talking contract terms. There is willingness from both parties at the moment.”

Pogba might become the second of an extremely talented crop of youngsters to leave Old Trafford after Ravel Morrison decided to join West Ham in the January transfer window. Signed in 2009 from French club Le Havre, the sturdy midfielder has made 4 senior appearances for the club, all as a substitute. He made his premier league debut against Stoke City, coming on for Javier Hernandez in the 72nd minute.

Sir Alex has expressed his desire for letting Pogba carry on with the club and has employed senior player Rio Ferdinand to persuade the youngster to sign a contract extension. The United gaffer said in an earlier interview:

“We have an option on his contract that takes us into a year-and-a-half away, so in that respect there’s not a great emergency about it. But we’d like the boy to sign a contract and, if he’d like to be a Manchester United player, then he knows what to do. At the moment, Rio [Ferdinand] is working hard on the boy Pogba and talking to him. The young boy is unsure, but Rio is well regarded [by him].”