Paul Pogba is set to leave Manchester United at the end of the season on a free transfer, and he could prove Roy Keane right in his next move.
The Frenchman returned to Old Trafford in 2016 after a successful spell in Juventus, though has struggled to show his class on a regular basis in the Premier League. The midfielder unquestionably possesses the ability to be regarded as one of the best in his position, but his failure to perform week, in week out has made his eight-year spell at United underwhelming.
Offers are reported to be on the table for Pogba to sign from top clubs all over Europe, and he may live up to the expectation of Red Devils hero Keane. The Irishman predicted in 2020 that Pogba didn’t want to be a leader at United, and he could join a side already full of those sorts of characters.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Keane said: “What I would say about Pogba, we’ve been saying for the last year or two that he needs to take more of a lead with the team. I don’t think he necessarily wants to be the main guy. He probably wants to be the main guy on the social media side of things, but on the pitch, he’s thinking, 'I’m glad of that, I’ll just be under that radar'.
"We’ve always said he’s got that quality, and I think he never really wanted to be that leader at Man United. He doesn’t have to be now because he’s got a couple of other lads around him and he looks like he’s enjoying himself a bit more."
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris-Saint Germain are amongst the clubs keen to sign the 29-year-old. All of the aforementioned sides have high-profile leaders already amongst their ranks – such as Luka Modric and Marquinhos – so Pogba wouldn’t have the expectation of being the loudest voice in the dressing room.
However, that seems to have been the case at United given that since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, the club have lacked strong voices. The captaincy of Harry Maguire has been questioned ever since he took the captain’s armband, whilst the return of Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly only amplified the lack of strong figures in the squad.
Paul Scholes believes that Pogba’s time at United has overall been disappointing, though does think that he will re-find his best form at his new club. He told talkSPORT : “I was there when he was a kid and this lad has got absolutely everything you would want in a footballer and a midfield player.
“His physique, he can run. I just don't think he's ever learned as a footballer, he constantly seems to make the same mistakes over and over again. It's disappointing, it looks like he's going to leave. He'll go somewhere, a manager will get a grip of him, and I think he'll do really well, as he did at Juventus. For some reason, at Man United, it hasn't worked out. It's a big disappointment. You see what he does with France.'
