Manchester United confirm midfielder Paul Pogba will leave club as free agent

 

 

Manchester United have announced that Paul Pogba will leave on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of this month.

 

Pogba, 29, re-joined United from Juventus in 2016 for a then-world-record £89 million deal.

In his second full season, he made 27 appearances in an injury-plagued final season.

 

“It was a low-key end to a United career that brought so many individual high moments,” the Old Trafford club said in a statement.

“So many beautiful goals, assists and pieces of skill.

“For a boy that joined the academy at 16 to make over 200 United appearances and lift the Youth Cup, along with two major pieces of silverware, is something that should be applauded and celebrated.”

 

Pogba joined United as a 16-year-old from French club Le Havre in 2009, and was a member of the youth team that won the Youth Cup in 2011.

Before his contract expired in July 2012, he made only seven professional appearances before joining Juventus.

Before making a record-breaking return to Old Trafford, Pogba won eight major awards in Turin, including four consecutive Serie A titles.

During his first season with the club, he won the EFL Cup and the Europa League, but those would be the only trophies he would win during his second.

In 2018, he lost his vice-captaincy due to a dispute with then-manager Jose Mourinho, and injuries and irregular form limited his effectiveness.

Pogba scored 39 goals in 233 games for the club over his two stints there, but his farewell home game against Norwich City in April was marred by boos from his own fans when he was replaced.