Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has claimed Real Madrid rejected the chance to sign Paul Pogba in 2016.
The Red Devils completed a then world-record transfer to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford ahead of the 2016/17 season. Pogba had left United for Juventus in 2012 after Sir Alex Ferguson failed to give him a first-team chance, but Jose Mourinho made the move to bring him back to Manchester.
His second spell with the Red Devils was blighted by injuries and mixed form, as he struggled to live up to expectations, and his star faded.
Paul Pogba au Real Madrid ?
He joined Juventus on a free transfer in 2022, and is currently serving a four-year ban for doping, but Evra says it could have been very different if Florentino Perez had signed him to Madrid.
«Man United brought Pogba home because they wanted to humiliate Sir Alex Ferguson. I told Paul not to come back because he wanted Real Madrid and they wanted him, but Florentino Perez didn’t want to pay“, according to an interview on Sky Sports’ Stick To Football podcast.
Despite not signing Pogba in 2016/17, Real Madrid were unaffected as Zinedine Zidane led them to the Liga–UEFA Champions League double at the end of the campaign.
IN BRIEF
- The Red Devils completed a record transfer to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford ahead of the 2016/17 season, following his departure for Juventus in 2012 under Sir Alex Ferguson.
- His second spell at Manchester United was marred by injuries and mixed form, and he joined Juventus in 2022 before being suspended for doping.
- According to Evra, Pogba would have preferred to join Real Madrid but Florentino Perez was not prepared to pay, allowing Zidane to lead Madrid to a double in 2016/17.
