Manchester United are braced for another fight to keep Paul Pogba with the French star set on leaving for Real Madrid.
Pogba demanded to join Barcelona last year after his agent Mino Raiola had negotiated a move to the Nou Camp, but United chief Ed Woodward refused to consider selling his prize asset.
Now Pogba wants to join Real after Raiola opened talks with Barca's arch rivals, and the 26-year-old midfielder told friends that he has no wish to stay at United.Madrid are desperate to sign Pogba as part of a summer rebuild, and the Frenchman admitted in March that it would be a 'dream' to play at the Bernabeu under his compatriot Zinedine Zidane.
United insist Pogba is still not for sale and Woodward remains determined to hold on to the £89million record signing who has huge commercial value. The player has two years left on his current £290,000-a-week contract, and United have the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
But Old Trafford insiders believe United may listen to offers in excess of £160m if they are forced to accept that there is little point in keeping Pogba against his will.
Pogba would then feel justified in telling the club that he does not want to spend another season outside the Champions League at this stage of his career.
He is happier under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a spectacular falling out with Jose Mourinho, and was a key factor in United's resurgence.
But his recent form has dipped amid interest from Madrid as the revival has ground to a halt with a run of seven defeats in 10 games.
lukzlat910
93
Pogba will probably stay in United, he loves the club and has good relationships with his teammates as we can see, Solskjaer himself said Pogba would most likely stay next season, Martial and Fred should be part of the few that must leave in the summer, we don't want lazy players here
Reddevilsalways
86
So We are not going to sell pogba..But he is already in dream of move to Madrid.. Hazard is sold to madrid for 112m with one year to go on his contract..So 160m for pogba is right i think for 2 years balance in his contract..Still i don't know why United is fighting to keep him..Good luck united in keeping him..
bakacemz
71
160 M is too much but its worth for 5 years the question is how long can pogba maintain his form do you think in 5 years time he can still play football likee the way he did it now
alwayshalamadrid
68
we don't need him in madrid for 160mil, if madrid bought him for over 120mil that's not a good deal for madrid, and he's not worthy more than 120mil, just go for Eriksen, and then instead of pogba go for lo celso or Kai havertz or ndoumbele or Pablo sarabia or van de beek,
ORUVAL2
59
OK good idea but his mind is longer in Old Trafford...let see how far you will resist Perez's cash splash!!!