Many of us saw Manchester United’s highly acclaimed starlet Paul Pogba play against the reserves in September and assist Mame Biram Diouf’s equaliser in a game which ended 2-1 to the Gunners, but since then Arsenal fans won’t have seen much of the 18 year-old midfield general aside from the second half against Leeds in the Cup.
However, the Metro are reporting that we are in the driving seat to signing the highly touted French Under-19 international when his contract with United expires at the end of the season; a situation which Sir Alex Ferguson is aware of:
“If we hold Pogba back, what’s going to happen? He’s going to leave in a couple of years’ time when his contract is going to finish. So we have to give him the opportunity to see how he can do in the first-team and he’s got great ability.”
Pogba, of Guinean descent, sprays passes from deep in midfield but has a powerful change of pace to match his dominant physique, making him just as potent going forward as in defense – a factor which has seen him captain France for every youth level up to Under-19.
Regarded by some as the next Patrick Vieira, Pogba has two goals and three assists from the United reserves in five games this term but hasn’t progressed to more than one first team cameo since joining in a controversial move from Le Havre in October 2009. The president of his former club accused United of offering Pogba’s parents €100,000 and a house – however, they dropped thier claims after Torcy, Pogba’s boyhood club, accused Le Havre (interestingly Lassana Diarra’s former club) of doing the same to them.
It’s fair to say he’ll have a better chance of getting first team action at the Emirates, so it’s going to be interesting to see how this one develops.
