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Paul Pogba has claimed his relationship with former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was a “nightmare” but he wants to give him a “big grope” to make up for it.
The Frenchman arrived at Outdated Trafford for £89million as Mourinho’s dream signing in 2016, but their relationship was tumultuous and frayed.
Questioned by the midfield, Mourinho stripped him of the vice-captaincy, called him a “virus” in front of the team and left him on the bench for his last game in charge, a 3-1 defeat against Liverpool in December. 2018.
Now, in a monopoly interview with Mail Sport, Pogba says that they were “like boyfriends” and admitted that he wants to reconcile with the coach.
“Our relationship was like boyfriend and girlfriend, we were breaking up and making up all the time,” Pogba told Mail Sport’s Sami Mokbel.
Paul Pogba has told Mail Sport that his relationship with José Mourinho at Manchester United was like “boyfriend and girlfriend” and that he wants to “hug” his former coach after the “nightmare”
The Frenchman had arrived at Outdated Trafford as Mourinho’s £89m summer 2016 big deal.
However, their relationship broke down when he questioned Mourinho’s tactics and the Portuguese coach called him a ‘virus’ in the presence of the team.
“Everything started splendidly, he was one of the reasons why I returned to Manchester because I spoke with him and he convinced me to return.
‘I don’t know why it became a nightmare and we fought. Because I wasn’t fighting. I didn’t start the fight.
“We didn’t agree, as coaches and players sometimes do. But there is a lot of respect on my part around him.
‘If I see him tomorrow he’s a big groper! But someday we will have to sit down together and discuss it.”
Pogba had publicly criticized Mourinho’s conservative tactics with the Red Devils and after the Portuguese was sacked, posted a photo of a knowing expression on his face, writing “caption of this”.
Even when Mourinho was managing Tottenham, Pogba still took shots at his former coach.
In April 2021 he suggested that Mourinho could treat players as if they “don’t exist”, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in his opinion, “wouldn’t go against the players”.
Pogba’s interview with Mail Sport is his first and only interview with a UK newsletter since his football approval was reduced.
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Pogba’s Mail Sport interview is his first with a UK media outlet after his ban on playing football was reduced
Despite their feud and scuffle of words, he insists there is a lot of “respect” between the couple.
Pogba is about to leave Juventus and will be able to play independently again from March 2025
In February, Pogba, then 30, received a four-year ban from football after failing a drug test in August 2023, potentially ending his career.
He tested positive for testosterone after Juventus’ first game of the 2023-24 season against Udinese, and an Italian anti-doping prosecutor handed him a harsh punishment.
However, as revealed in Monopoly Mail Sport earlier this month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his suspension to 18 months following an appeal, meaning he will be able to return to play in March 2025, and will be allowed to train starting in January.