Pogba became the world’s most expensive footballer when he re-signed for United in an £89m deal in 2016 in the same summer that Mourinho joined the club.
The pair enjoyed a promising start together, winning the League Cup and Europa League in their first season, but things turned sour between them prior to Mourinho being sacked in December 2018.
Mourinho and Pogba famously clashed in training in the early stages of the 2018-19 season after the former was unhappy that the Frenchman had been posting on Instagram during a United match that he was unavailable for. Reflecting on the breakdown in their relationship, Mourinho claimed Pogba changed following his World Cup triumph.
‘Only thing I say is that it happens with almost everybody in some moments of your career: you lose a little bit the sense of who you are and what you have to be,’ Mourinho told The Telegraph.
‘The season after France won the [2018] World Cup, I think Paul came back different.
‘The World Cup brought him into a dimension where football was not the most important thing for him. Sharing the philosophy of everyone; everyone with the same level of responsibilities.’
‘Pogba did not start any of Mourinho’s last three games in charge, with a power struggle developing between the duo that left fans and players divided.
‘Mourinho hinted that he did not receive the full support of the United board after making the bold call to drop Pogba, which left him feeling undermined in front of the rest of the squad.
‘When you are supported by the power, by the hierarchy, the message that passes through is very positive in the group,’ Mourinho continued.
‘When you are not supported… because the player is more important or what the player represents is more important – then you are in a fragile situation. Even if you are a coach with so much experience as was my case.’
‘Pogba went on to stay at Old Trafford for another four years after Mourinho left before agreeing to return to former club Juventus on a free transfer for the second time.
‘But his move back to Italy proved disastrous as he missed the majority of the 2022-23 season, including the World Cup, due to injury.
