Roy Keane claims Manchester United will sell Paul Pogba next summer after Liverpool benching

The former Republic of Ireland captain believes the World Cup winner's days at Old Trafford are numbered

Monday 17 December 2018 08:49 GMT
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(Getty)

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Roy Keane claimed that Manchester United will sell Paul Pogba next summer after the midfielder watched Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to rivals Liverpool from the substitutes’ bench.

Pogba was not called upon by Jose Mourinho as two deflected second-half goals from Xherdan Shaqiri gave Liverpool a vital win at Anfield, after Jesse Lingard had capitalised on Alisson’s mistake to cancel out Sadio Mane’s clinical opener.

Tensions between Pogba and Mourinho have dominated United’s chaotic season, and after the game Keane said it will soon be time for his former club to cut their losses on the Frenchman.

“I think the players are giving everything,” Keane said of United on Sky Sports. “I think there’s one or two players not on top form, the obvious one being Pogba.

“Pogba’s sitting on the bench, watching that game and not getting on, you’re thinking his days must be numbered.

“I don’t think they’ll do anything with Pogba in January but come the summer you move him on. It’s no big deal, he’s left United before.”

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness, sitting alongside Keane in the studio, has frequently criticised Pogba in the past and the Scot expressed solidarity with Mourinho in dealing with the midfielder.

Shaqiri scored twice to win the game for Liverpool after coming off the bench
Shaqiri scored twice to win the game for Liverpool after coming off the bench (Reuters)

“I would suggest that he’s someone who’s been allowed to get into his arm chair and when he starts to do something good he starts to believe the things – and only the good things,” Souness said.

“For me, he’s not improved since he’s come to England, he’s not got any better.

“I have sympathy with the manager – he’s got a hell of a job on to sort him out and I’m not sure if that can be done and that’s why he stays on the bench.

“Pogba must be sitting there thinking, ‘Surely I’m better than Fellaini, Mata, Matic?’

“And if he had a better attitude he would be better than any midfield player out there today and possibly any midfield player playing in the Premier League.

“To me on the outside he doesn’t seem to have a proper attitude.”

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