Mino Raiola admits he will no longer speak out about Paul Pogba, while speaking out about Paul Pogba
Super-agent Mino Raiola has said that he will no longer speak publicly about Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, whose future at Old Trafford has remained up in the air ever since Raiola gave an interview in December stating that the player is ‘unhappy’ and wants to leave.
Pogba’s form on the pitch since then has suggested otherwise, although United are still vulnerable as long as he hasn’t signed a new contract because of the threat he could leave as a free agent in 2022. Raiola made sure to make that point when he made his controversial comments.
But in response to fresh questions over whether Pogba could re-join former club Juventus in particular, Raiola has said he will not speak about the player’s future anymore and will now only conduct business in private, arguably as he always should have done.
It is not clear whether that would be working on a transfer away or discussing a new contract. But both directions are distinctly possible. However, with no obvious market for Pogba and an improving United squad, the latter might end up being the only feasible option available.
“Pogba must be left alone,” Raiola told reporters in Italy on a visit to Serie A headquarters.
“When I speak people get nervous, they don’t sleep at night, so I don't speak anymore. I will do what I have to do not in front of [the media], but in the shadows, as I always have.”
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently said that the club has an ‘open dialogue’ with Pogba regarding the ongoing issue of his future beyond this season.
“We've got a good open dialogue with Paul, so what we talk about and how we see that situation remains between us of course,” Solskjaer explained.
“I'm just happy he's focused, he's playing really well and he's happy in himself and that's important. You can see Paul now enjoying playing football with a red shirt on.”
Just a month after Raiola’s controversial interview, Pogba himself appeared to contradict his agent when he spoke in early January about his desire to win the ‘big stuff’ with United.
“Football and playing for Man Utd is not easy, it will never be easy, but it makes the victory prettier and more beautiful when we get through a tough time,” he said.
“It is beautiful and you get the emotion. That is all we want. That is what the fan wants, that is what the team wants, everyone wants this. The club is built on winning and big things, so that is all we want to get – the big stuff.”
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