Patrice Evra, a former Manchester United defender, has suggested that Paul Pogba’s 2016 return to the club was more about making a statement than addressing on-field needs.
Evra claimed on the *Stick to Football* podcast that Pogba’s re-signing, for a then-record £89 million, was intended to “humiliate” Sir Alex Ferguson, who had let Pogba go to Juventus in 2012 after failing to secure regular playing time under him. Evra expressed skepticism about the Glazer family’s motives behind the transfer, suggesting it was driven more by commercial interests than footballing merit.
“The club was happy because they were selling shirts, you know the kids love Pogba – it was more commercial than anything on the pitch,” Evra said. He had actually advised Pogba to consider a move to Real Madrid instead.
Despite Pogba’s mixed performances and off-field controversies during his second stint at United, Evra defended his countryman, attributing some of the issues to Pogba’s entourage and his own lack of focus. He emphasized his support for Pogba, stating, “It’s not about being a big fan of Paul Pogba, it’s about being his big brother.”
Evra also addressed criticism from pundits like Graeme Souness, who found Pogba “frustrating” due to his unfulfilled potential. According to Evra, high expectations placed on Pogba contributed to him being “exposed” in midfield.
Pogba left Manchester United on a free transfer to rejoin Juventus in 2022 after a challenging six-year second spell at the club.
