MY ACCOUNT
Paul Pogba is back in action for Manchester United — but his time at Old Trafford could be drawing to a close.
Uncertainty lingers over the future of the midfielder, who made his first appearance in three months as United lost on penalties to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round last Friday.
That was also the Frenchman’s first involvement under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who took over during his spell on the sidelines.
Ahead of the United’s trip to Burnley tonight, we investigate what the coming months have in store for United’s No6.
Inconsistent quality
While pundits have perhaps been excessively critical of Pogba’s attitude, it is hard to deny he is a mercurial player — an elite operator but arguably never over a sustained period.
Inconsistency breeds frustration and there has always been a certain ‘what if?’ hanging over the midfield maestro since his return to Old Trafford five-and-a-half years ago.
That said, 2021 was possibly Pogba’s best year in a United shirt, so he will be looking to continue that form under United’s new boss.
Picking up where he left off
With seven assists in nine Premier League games before suffering a thigh injury, Pogba was at his creative best in the opening months of this campaign.
Even now, only Liverpool trio Trent Alexander-Arnold (10), Mohamed Salah (nine) and Andy Robertson (eight) rank ahead of him in that respect.
Will he be able to pick up where he left off under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in November?
That remains to be seen but Rangnick’s decision to put him straight back into the starting XI might hint at how important he feels the World Cup winner is to his plans.
Pogba produced a match-winning display on his previous trip to Turf Moor in January 2021, scoring the only goal of the game. A repeat performance tonight would go down very well indeed.
Planning ahead
Brought in to steady the ship at a time of transition, Rangnick will stay at Old Trafford beyond this season, moving upstairs into a consultancy role.
Assuming all goes to plan, United will appoint a new permanent manager in the summer.
But the German tactician will use his time in charge to start laying the foundations for future success — and he may well envisage Pogba playing a big part in that.
The 63-year-old German certainly seems to feel that way about Scott McTominay, who he has tipped to become club captain one day.
Could the Pogba-McTominay midfield axis, which started against Middlesbrough, be a core component of Rangnick’s Red Devils vision?
Wait and see
Speaking ahead of Pogba’s return to action, Rangnick revealed nothing to suggest any decision has been made over the 89-cap France international’s next step.
He said: “I’m happy to have him back in the squad. His contract is expiring in the summer and if he would like to stay or go somewhere else he has to show up.
“We haven’t spoken about [his future] at all so far. I’ll be excited myself to see how Paul is doing.
“And like all the other players for me, he is now a new player and he can show me — and the team, the fans and everyone in England — how good and what high level he can play.
“Let’s just wait and see what he can show and what he can deliver.”
A new challenge?
If Pogba does become a free agent, he will not be short of potential suitors.
The Parisian turns 29 next month but his quality is showing no signs of waning.
Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a move, as have Real Madrid, with Pogba reportedly telling United he wants to run down his contract and join Los Blancos.
Signing for either of those clubs ought to give the former Juventus star a greater chance of getting his hands on a Champions League medal, which has so far eluded him throughout his career.
