Paul Pogba's agent has blamed injuries and Manchester United's "transitional phase" for his failure to flourish at Old Trafford.
Pogba, 29, re-joined the Red Devils from Juventus for a world-record £89million transfer fee in August 2016. He was signed to bring Premier League and Champions League success back to the club but won just two trophies during an underwhelming six-year spell.
The Frenchman returned to Juventus in the summer - although he hasn't played yet due to a knee injury - and his agent Rafaela Pimenta has opened up on his United woes. Pimenta has succeeded the late Mino Raiola, who died in April, as Pogba's primary agent.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Pimenta said: "Paul was playing all the time for Manchester United when he was not injured. When he was injured, that was something else. He did not choose to be injured. But he played when he was not injured.
"Now I think Manchester United is going through a transitional phase... United is going through a restructuring phase and I think Paul was part of that phase. They are still going through it and they will make it, I have no doubt but Paul was in the middle of it."
United have been going through this "transitional phase" since the retirement of iconic manager Sir Alex Ferguson in May 2013. The Scot made them the most successful team in England - winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and other honours.
What do you make of Rafaela Pimenta's view on Paul Pogba's Manchester United career? Let us know in the comments below!
Pogba came through the ranks at Old Trafford and left United for Juventus in the summer of 2012. It proved to be a wise move, as he went on to establish himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe, winning eight trophies - including four Serie A titles.
The World Cup winner did well during his first season back in Manchester, lifting the League Cup and Europa League under Jose Mourinho. He also formed a good partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was signed as a free agent in the same window.
Yet Pogba and United failed to build on that success. His relationship with Mourinho became strained, and Pep Guardiola's claim that Raiola offered him the chance to sign his client the day before the Manchester derby in April 2018 was viewed as disrespectful.
Those tensions were increased further in December 2020 when Raiola claimed Pogba's Old Trafford career was over, just before a crucial Champions League game against RB Leipzig. The midfielder was dropped and United were knocked out of the tournament.
Despite Pogba's indifferent time, Pimenta believes he still loves United. She added: "Paul made a choice of the heart, at the time [2016] He really wanted to go back to United. The happiness he felt going back was like home. So I am sure it was the right choice.
"Now were there expectations for more trophies and more achievements? Yes, there was. But they didn’t come. But I think when things don’t happen it’s best to take joint responsibility when there is joint responsibility. You have to acknowledge it. But I don’t think Paul is to blame for things not going as we would have liked them to have gone, right?"
