Ian Wright highlights Manchester United’s key mistake with Paul Pogba

Pogba could leave the club at the end of the season with interest from Paris Saint-Germain

Sarah Rendell
Monday 31 January 2022 10:38 GMT
Comments
Wright says United have handled Pogba badly
Wright says United have handled Pogba badly (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ian Wright says Manchester United should allow Paul Pogba to play with freedom as he did at previous club Juventus.

United signed the French international in 2016 from the Italian side. In the Serie A Pogba played down the left and his form spoke for itself. But he was switched to a deeper midfield role at the Premier League side which has seen him struggle for form and game time.

This could result in the star leaving when his contract is up at the end of the season and Wright pointed out if United treated Pogba as Liverpool has Virgil van Dijk, the international would stay.

“You can look at Pogba’s signing,” Wright told Premier League productions. “You look at Pogba, he’s not a six, he’s not an eight and not a 10.

“He is a player we saw when he played for Juventus, on the left, with a very well-balanced midfield and played with freedom. Aaron Ramsey, the same kind of player. He plays with freedom. You need the right players.

“That is where people are buying the wrong type of player without fitting them in. This is where the Virgil van Dijk signing is absolutely perfect. That’s why they would have paid another £25m for him – you look at how Virgil was playing for Celtic, he is playing exactly the same now.

“This is why all of the top teams have missed out on a player that was showing, the fact that he was playing in a league that wasn’t as good as the Premier League, but Liverpool have benefited from it.”

Paris Saint-Germain are understood to be interested in Pogba and could sign him for free when the Frenchman’s contract expires in Manchester at the end of the season.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in