Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned Real Madrid that Paul Pogba is fully focused on Manchester United.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has fired a warning over Paul Pogba’s availability in the transfer market.
The Los Blancos were chasing the Red Devils midfielder for the whole summer transfer window, but the English side didn’t want to do business because of their reluctance to sell. Once the talks went up to a certain level, Manchester United wanted no lesser than £150 million, which put off Florentino Perez.
Both Zinedine Zidane and Florentino Perez didn’t shy away from their desire to sign him, but the combo of Manchester United’s hesitation and price tag proved to be a daunting task. But, Real Madrid are not prepared to sit back as they are set to plot a move in the upcoming summer to strengthen their midfield department.
Further negotiations will not affect United’s stance because of the player’s commitment to the club, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Red Devils manager said: “I don’t listen to the president of Real Madrid [Florentino Perez],”
“But Paul is working hard here and he is totally committed to Manchester United.
“We have seen that while he’s been injured. He has been working like crazy to get himself fit because he wants to play for us and he wants to help his team-mates.
“I am not worried now and I will never be worried in the future about Paul Pogba staying here.
“If it all kicks off against with Madrid in January then there will be no worries then either. If we have to live with the speculation again then we will handle it like we did in the summer.
“Paul is going nowhere. He is happy here when he’s playing.”
Despite Paul Pogba’s flirtation with Real Madrid labelling them as a ‘dream club’, Solskjaer remains fond of the player he coached as a youngster in the United reserves.
He added: “You need a big personality to play for Man United. You need a certain kind of confidence and arrogance and you have to be self-assured enough to be yourself in both the good times and the bad times.
“Paul Pogba is all of those things. He is one of our big characters. Paul will walk out onto any pitch and be full of confidence – and that’s what I look for and what I demand from all of our players.
“It’s not misplaced arrogance with Paul. It’s about believing in himself. It’s about the respect he has for his team-mates and his opponents.”
Since signing back for the club in 2016, Paul Pogba has made 139 appearances and won Europa League and League Cup under the management of Jose Mourinho. He thrived during Solskjaer’s temporary reign but has been quite the opposite since the current manager took over Manchester United on a permanent basis.
