Paul Pogba considered leaving Manchester United during Jose Mourinho’s tenure as manager, his brother has revealed.
The France midfielder shared an uneasy relationship with Mourinho during their time together at Old Trafford, especially throughout the final few months of the Portuguese’s reign.
In the build up to Mourinho losing his job, he stripped Pogba of the vice-captaincy, had a training ground confrontation with the midfielder, and even reportedly branded him a ‘virus’ during a dressing room bust-up.
Pogba, 25, has burst into life since Mourinho’s sacking last month, with his assist in Sunday’s defeat of Leicester making it six goals and five assists in just eight Premier League matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the club’s interim manager.
He is finally living up to the expectations which he has struggled to reach since his then world record transfer to United in 2016, but if Mourinho was still in charge Pogba might not even be turning out for the Red Devils any more.
It has previously been rumoured that Pogba wanted to leave the club if Mourinho remained in the Old Trafford dugout, and his brother, Mathias, has confirmed these reports.
Speaking to Telefoot, as quoted by Le10 Sport, Tours striker Mathias said: “Did Paul think about leaving because of Mourinho? Of course. It comes to mind.
“But today he is where he is.
“He was under contract so he had to grit his teeth and keep working.”
Pogba’s rejuvenation under Solskjaer also comes as no surprise to his brother, who believes United’s caretaker manager knows exactly how to get the best out the World Cup winner.
“As Solskjaer had Paul with the reserve team, he knows exactly what to say and how to say it to Paul,” he added.
“And when you give my little brother that responsibility, you will only see the best of him.”