By Dave Marshall
In the summer of 2016, after long deliberations, Manchester United finally announced the return of their former player to Old Trafford. He had left at the age of 19 to go cut it somewhere else and returned four years later as a truly bonafide world-class player. Paul Pogba came to United in an £89m deal from Juventus, making him the most expensive footballer in world football history. However, he has struggled to replicate such perfomances that made him highly-rated in the first place.
Juventus were expected to struggle this season after his departure, but the Italians have even moved a step up, raising questions about whether Pogba even limited them while in the colours of the Bianconeri.
Pogba has scored just eight times in the colours of United, a paltry return from a player many expected so much more from. He has drifted through too many matches this term, and should kickstart next season with a bang should he not want to be labeled a flop.
This season has seen Jose Mourinho, the Manchester United boss try a myriad of formations and players to suit the Frenchman’s game, but none of those players bar Ander Herrera have covered themselves in glory.
United have finished in a disappointing sixth place, and Pogba has scored just five goals in the Premier League. The squad still has the imprint of the Louis van Gaal era, with players finding motivation hard to come by and struggling to uphold the history of the club, but make no mistake, United will be better and Pogba will surely be. If Jose does manage to win The Europa League on Wednesday and gets to sign majority of this top transfer targets, Chelsea have a fight on their hands if they are to retain the league next year. It is a known fact that Jose always wins the league in his second season at every club he has coached, meaning that if he gets the right personnel around Pogba, the Frenchman will shine and dominate matches like he was meant to do this season.
A player doesn’t get bad all of a sudden, and next season will show how far Pogba has come. This season was simply a learning curve.
Pogba has been magnificent this season albeit a game or two. A 20 goal return cannot be expected from a midfield player whatsoever and that too he was used conservatively by the gaffer. Remember when he was out injured, he was the one most missed as out team played toothlessly without him in the team.