Ferguson blames agent for Pogba exit

Sir Alex Ferguson has blamed Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola for the Manchester United exit of one of the world’s most valuable footballers for nothing in 2012.

Pogba, now 22, left United to join Juventus on a free transfer after reportedly growing frustrated with a lack of first-team opportunities at Old Trafford.

Pogba has since developed into one of the best midfielders in world football with a value of around £70million – but the manner of his Old Trafford exit has seen some people question the wisdom of Ferguson in allowing him to leave.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea are among the clubs all keen on Pogba, but in his new book, Leading, Ferguson blames Raiola entirely for destroying the relationship between player and club.

He wrote: ‘There are one or two football agents I simply do not like, and Mino Raiola, Paul Pogba’s agent is one of them. I distrusted him from the moment I met him.

‘We had Paul under a three-year contract, and it had a one-year renewal option which we were eager to sign.

‘Raiola suddenly appeared on the scene and our first meeting was a fiasco. He and I were like oil and water.

‘From then our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to integrate himself with Paul and his family and the player signed with Juventus.’

Ferguson had said at the time of Pogba’s exit: “It is disappointing. I don’t think he showed us any respect at all, to be honest. I’m quite happy that if they [footballers] carry on that way, they’re probably better doing it away from us.”