The midfielder has been linked with a move to Madrid and United want him to stay.
Ever since the return of Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid boss, all the elite clubs across Europe are keen to keep hold of their star players. The likes of PSG, Chelsea are already negotiating with their star players. With the likes of Sadio Mane, Adrien Rabiot, Paul Pogba and Miralem Pjanic constantly linked with Zidane, it seems it will be an exciting summer for Real Madrid fans. Manchester United have begin the talks with Paul Pogba as they fend off Madrid’s interest.
Manchester United are prepared to begin talks with Paul Pogba over a new contract following Real Madrid’s interest in the midfielder, according to reports. The France international will have two years remaining on his current deal in the summer but reports have claimed that he is keen on joining up with Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid. Real boss Zinedine Zidane hopes to land fellow Frenchman Pogba as well as Chelsea’s Eden Hazard as part of his Bernabeu summer refit. But while Pogba, 26, is thought to be flattered by the prospect of moving to Madrid, United will do everything in their power to keep the midfielder. And that means agreeing with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that Pogba must remain a key part of the United squad for the long-term. Pogba’s current deal has two years to run, although United have an option to extend that for a further 12 months. But the Red Devils could be willing to put a three-year extension on the table, tying Pogba to Old Trafford until 2024. Any new deal would need a huge wage increase with Pogba currently on a basic of £300,000 a week, significantly less than flop Sanchez’s £505,000.
Raiola is also acutely conscious of Solskjaer’s desperation to keep Pogba with United set to lose out-of-contract pair Ander Herrera and Juan Mata. Meanwhile, Sanchez’s troubled stay at Old Trafford is on the brink of ending if the club can find a buyer. Real are reportedly ready to pay £125million for Pogba this summer, though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Manchester United manager, said last week the midfielder will remain at Old Trafford and be a ‘big, big part’ of his plans moving forward.
Pogba even admitted it would be a dream to play for Real, when quizzed on a potential move to Spain throughout the recent international break. “Like I’ve always said, Real Madrid is a dream for anyone. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world,” said Pogba. “There is also [Zinedine] Zidane as a coach and it’s a dream for anybody who likes football.”
Author’s Take:
With United struggling to keep De Gea and sell Sanchez, the situation leaves Pogba and Raiola in the driving seat. They know United are desperate to keep Pogba and will do anything to keep him. For United success in Pogba’s contract extension would be seen as a vital statement of intent and ambition.
