Mino Raiola claims Alex Ferguson didn’t “accept” in Paul Pogba during his first stretch at Manchester United and says he doesn’t “give a f***” regardless of whether he manages more deals with the club once more.
Pogba left United for Serie A force to be reckoned with Juventus in 2012 – a year prior Ferguson remained down as United director – after his agreement terminated, just to re-join United in 2016 for what was then a big world-record transfer move of £89million.
The France midfielder’s future has been the subject of much conversation since Raiola asserted his player’s time at United was “finished” in December, provoking theory of a potential re-visitation of Juve or a transition to LaLiga giants Real Madrid.
Riola said: “When Ferguson criticized me, that was my biggest compliment anybody could give me. Ferguson is used to people coming in and saying: ‘Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir’. All I have to say that when Ferguson left Manchester United the club’s owner, by buying back Paul Pogba, told me that I was right. Because I didn’t want to take Paul Pogba away. Ferguson didn’t believe in Paul Pogba. So when Ferguson says: ‘I don’t like him, it’s the biggest compliment that I could have. It’s like saying Sepp Blatter says: ‘I don’t like him. Fantastic. I don’t care what Ferguson says. I don’t give a f*** if I never do another player with Manchester United. I’m not in their hands. I’m independent. We have only one party that we take care of: our players. And as long as our players like us, you do what you have to do.”
Pogba’s agreement is set to lapse in 2022, albeit United chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as of late said an “open discourse” about another arrangement for the 28-year-old is progressing.
Ferguson, who appreciated a prize-loaded 26-year rule at Old Trafford, has openly blamed Raiola for his part in Pogba’s departure, yet the specialist demands he needed the World Cup champ to remain at the club.
