French Midfielder Paul Pogba Suggests He Is Open To Joining Manchester United

Paul Pogba has hinted that he is open to moving to Manchester United this summer, describing his former club as his ‘first family’ in a recent ESPN interview and refusing to commit to his current club, Juventus.

French Midfielder Paul Pogba Suggests He Is Open To Joining Manchester United

Man U have been pursuing the French midfielder all summer with Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho’s naming the 23-year-old a key acquisition before his first season in charge at Old Trafford. Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in Pogba, but have been put off by the €100 million ($111 million) valuation put on him by Juventus. The Italian club remain hopeful of keeping him in Turin and intend to offer the player, who was fundamental to them retaining the Serie A title last season, an improved contract now that he has returned from representing his country at home at Euro 2016.

Pogba played for United at youth level before joining Juventus in 2012. He and France lost to Portugal 1-0 in Sunday’s UEFA Euro 2016 final.

Interviewed in Spanish by ESPN in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Pogba was presented with three shirts – a Juventus one, a Real Madrid one and a Manchester United one. Asked what Juventus mean to him, he said: “That’s my team, my family, it’s where I am playing.”

Regarding Real, the midfielder said: “They won the Champions League this year. They are a great club.”

When he was lastly asked about United, Pogba simply said: “It was my first family.”

He was then asked how he would react if Mourinho called and asked him to play for United.

“I don’t know. Let’s see, let’s see,” said Pogba. “For the moment, I am here [Juventus] and I am happy here, but I don’t know where I want to go.”

United have already acquired three big names this summer: Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

In his first press conference as United manager, Mourniho made clear that he wants to make a fourth signing before the start of the 2016-17 Premier League campaign, and many believe he was referring to Pogba.

ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Paul Pogba of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on November 22, 2014 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)