Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has suggested that Paul Pogba’s high-profile return to Old Trafford in 2016 was driven by the club’s owners, the Glazers, as a move to humiliate legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.Pogba, who originally joined United’s academy as a 16-year-old, was widely regarded as a future star. However, he left for Juventus on a free transfer in 2012 after failing to secure sufficient playing time under Ferguson. The following year, Ferguson retired, while Pogba flourished in Italy, winning four Serie A titles and establishing himself as one of Europe’s top midfielders before making a sensational return to United for a then-record Premier League fee of 89 million pounds.While Pogba’s comeback was celebrated by many United supporters, Evra admitted he had doubts about the motivations behind the signing. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast by Sky Bet, Evra revealed that he advised Pogba against returning to Manchester, encouraging him to join Real Madrid instead.”Manchester United brought Paul Pogba back because they wanted to undermine Sir Alex Ferguson,” Evra stated. “I told Paul not to go back because he wanted Real Madrid, and Madrid wanted him too, but Florentino Pérez wasn’t willing to pay the money. His agent reached out to United, and Paul signed without telling me. The club was happy because they were selling shirts – kids love Pogba. It was more about commercial interests than what he could do on the pitch.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8298214##During his second spell at United, Pogba was often criticized for his performances and off-field activities. However, Evra, who played alongside Pogba at Juventus and had a long career at United between 2006 and 2014, felt compelled to defend his compatriot, explaining that Pogba’s behavior was often misunderstood.”It’s not about being a huge fan of Paul Pogba; it’s about being like a big brother to him,” Evra explained. “I was tough on him when we were at Juventus. When he told the press that he deserved to win the Ballon d’Or, I had to remind him to stay humble and grounded.”Evra also highlighted Pogba’s vulnerability, noting that the midfielder’s public persona didn’t reflect his true character.”People often focused on his hairstyles or dancing rather than his football. Even when he wasn’t playing, some would blame United’s losses on him. The criticism was sometimes unfair, and his entourage didn’t always help him stay focused.”Evra shared a personal anecdote from Pogba’s first game against Liverpool after his return to United, where Pogba struggled on the pitch.”The night before the game, I FaceTimed him and saw a lot of people in his room signing shirts. He assured me he was ready, but after the game, he admitted that he wasn’t focused, and his entourage had let him down.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##Despite the hefty price tag and high expectations, Pogba’s performances were inconsistent during his six-year stint at United, leading to his departure on a free transfer back to Juventus in 2022. Evra believes that the demands placed on Pogba were unrealistic, which ultimately led to his struggles.In a conversation with pundit Graeme Souness, who was one of Pogba’s harshest critics, Evra learned that Souness didn’t “hate” Pogba but found him frustrating.”Souness told me that Pogba’s talent and quality made it frustrating when he didn’t meet expectations. I’ve always told Paul, ‘Stop thinking people hate you. It’s because you frustrate them. You’re a powerhouse when you run box to box.'”Evra concluded by acknowledging that Pogba’s first season back at United wasn’t terrible, but the expectations placed on him – such as scoring 25 goals a season – were unreasonable.”He felt lost in his role, often having to cover for other midfielders, and that’s when he became exposed,” Evra added.
