According to sources, Real Madrid outbid Manchester United in an order to secure the services of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. Pogba returned to Old Trafford for a world record €105m but, according to the Daily Express, Real Madrid were willing to part with well more than that amount. The Spanish club were in the running for the Frenchman’s signature up until the very last moment, but the former Juventus man chose a move to the Red Devils instead.
Trending
Also Read: Paul Pogba's first interview as a Manchester United player
In an interview, Pogba stated that his desire to work under Jose Mourinho was the ultimate factor in his decision. With Madrid’s financial power, coupled with the fact that they will be competing in this year’s Champions League, Pogba’s decision to move to United pays testament to Jose’s ability as a manager and his ability to attract world class talent.
The move to bring Pogba back started about a year after he left the Red Devils. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had been at work rebuilding a relationship with Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola. The problem was the fact that former managers David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal were unwilling to splash the cash in order to sign the 23-year-old.
Under Mourinho though, this was not a problem. After identifying the Frenchman as a top target, negotiations began immediately, but the deal took a while to complete due to difficulties negotiating a deal with Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola and the fact that Real Madrid had also shown a late interest in the player.
Pogba though feels that it was his destiny to return to Old Trafford, his main goal being Premier League success. “I would say it’s destiny,” he said. “ First, my mum told me I would come back here and I told her, ‘You never know, you’ll see’. For myself as well it’s a big challenge too, just to come back to where I came from, where I grew up, where I started. “I didn’t finish what I started here so I came back to finish it.”
Along with being responsible for bringing Pogba back into the club, Mourinho has also quelled rumors about David De Gea’s future at United, stating that he is a major part of the Portuguese’s plans.
