MX23RW : Friday, April 19 02:38:51| >> :120:7015:7015:

Jose Mourinho addresses Paul Pogba speculation

Mourinho addresses Pogba speculation
© Reuters
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho insists that French midfielder Paul Pogba has not expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has insisted that Paul Pogba has not expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford.

Pogba was strongly linked with Barcelona during the summer transfer window, with the Catalan giants believed to be desperate to bring the 25-year-old to Camp Nou.

The 2018 World Cup winner ultimately stayed at Old Trafford, however, and has scored twice in four Premier League appearances at the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

The France international's long-term future with the 20-time English champions is far from secure though, and he recently addressed the Barcelona rumours with talk of a possible departure.

The Spanish champions are said to have held talks with Pogba during the summer, but Mourinho has insisted that the midfielder has not expressed a desire to leave.

"Paul came back after the World Cup the week before we started the Premier League," Mourinho told reporters. "We are together two months or so. He never told me he wants to leave. Never. He never told me he wants to leave.

"I can only comment on what is real for me, not in what I read, not on what I listen. I have no direct relation with the people that write or the people that listen.

"I have a direct relation with the players - not [just] Paul - the players. And he never told me he wants to leave. If he doesn't tell me he wants to leave, it's because he wants to stay. That's my conclusion, no?

"If I watch Mr Raiola (Mino Raiola, Pogba's agent) on the screen saying the players wants to leave, and that he is organising a way for him to try to leave or so on, then I will believe. At this moment, I am in the dark. The only thing that is clear for me is that the player never - never in all these days we are together - he never told me that he wants to leave."

Pogba, who has also been linked with a return to Juventus, is expected to be in the United XI for Saturday's Premier League clash with Watford.

ID:335419: cacheID:335419:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3224:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in action during his side's Premier League clash with Leicester City on August 10, 2018
Read Next:
Man Utd 'refuse to sell Paul Pogba'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!