Merson slams Pogba, floats idea of Ronaldo swap for Man Utd
Paul Merson believes Paul Pogba would have been aware that Mino Raiola planned to make a statement over his Manchester United future.
Raiola courted controversy by telling Italian media that “it’s over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United” on the eve of a huge week for the club.
Their Champions League fate relies on getting a positive result away at Leipzig to qualify from their group, while Manchester City await in the Premier League at the weekend.
But Raiola’s comments, widely criticised by Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville among others, have threatened to overshadow the build-up to those games as ‘a new nerve has been struck’ at Old Trafford.
“Raiola says the style of football doesn’t suit him. He’s playing in a football team. He’s not a snooker player. He plays with 10 other players. You join a team,” he told Sky Sports.
“It’s not like Man Utd are the most defensive team you’ve ever seen. Look at Tottenham! I don’t hear Harry Kane and Son moaning. Go and play snooker if you want it to be all about you.
“He knew the statement was going out. It’s his agent. He might play dumb, he might turn around say he didn’t know, but of course he knows. He’ll also know there’s a club interested in him. Raiola would have spoken to a club that is interested in Paul Pogba.
READ MORE: Man Utd must isolate Pogba to halt the ‘virus’
“They’re not going to mug themselves off by saying: ‘Paul wants to leave’ and then nobody comes in for him. Everything is already sorted on Pogba’s side of it!
“An agent doesn’t come out and say a player wants to leave without interest there. Pogba knows full well what his agent is doing: Raiola has a club for him. You keep on hearing about Ronaldo coming back to Man Utd – that could be a shout – Pogba for Ronaldo?”
