Graeme Souness says he was “astounded” to read the rumours linking Paul Pogba with a move to Manchester City this summer.
Pogba is out of contract with Manchester United on July 1 and poised to leave the club on a free transfer. The 29-year-old midfielder was United’s record signing following an £89million transfer from Juventus in 2016 but has largely failed to live up to his billing at Old Trafford.
Real Madrid , Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have all been touted as potential destinations for Pogba, who has been earning just shy of £300,000-a-week at United. But the Daily Mail reported this week that City are exploring the option of signing the Frenchman from their arch rivals.
Former Liverpool midfielder Souness has been one of the most regular critics of Pogba during his United career and, unsurprisingly, he does not believe he would make a good signing for Man City.
“You can imagine my reaction when I read yesterday that Pogba was being linked with a summer move to Manchester City. Astounded covers it,” he wrote for The Times . “I won’t say it defies football logic because that commodity is in rare supply these days but such a signing would run counter to the way Pep Guardiola likes to run a football team.
“For a start he wants his players ready to put in the hard yards – and the hard yards in the big games when City are up against it. He wants them to have the discipline and selflessness to appreciate their role in the City gameplan and execute accordingly.
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“Pogba probably has as much talent if not more than Bernardo Silva or Kevin de Bruyne but which two of this trio would you rely on most to carry out the manager’s instructions for the full 90? In which of Manchester United’s big games this season has Pogba shown up?”
Souness pointed out that Pogba was sent off against Liverpool at Old Trafford before going off injured early on in the fixture at Anfield. And while Pogba would be available without a transfer fee, he doesn’t think that makes the move worthwhile.
“Yes, unlike Declan Rice, for example, he would be available on a free transfer but this strikes me as a false economy,” Souness added. “The simple fact that in the near six years of his second spell at United, the demands and intensity of the Premier League have proved too much for him.”
Pogba has not played for United since picking up the injury in the 4-0 loss against Liverpool at Anfield on April 19. He has contributed one goal and nine assists in 20 Premier League appearances for Ralf Rangnick’s side this season, but is unlikely to feature in their final match of the season against Crystal Palace on May 22.