Paul Pogba has claimed that he enjoyed the best season at Manchester United after Jose Mourinho left.
The Frenchman has now admitted he wanted to quit Old Trafford long before he finally left to join Juventus in 2022.
After initially leaving United to join Juventus in 2012, Pogba returned to United four years later.
But Pogba’s second spell at the Premier League was hampered by injuries and speculation about a possible move to Real Madrid.
In an interview with Daily Mail, he revealed that he wanted to depart after he ended the 2018-19 season with 16 goals from 47 games in all competitions.
United had sacked Jose Mourinho and hired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was open to letting Pogba go, but United’s executive vice-chairman at the time, Ed Woodward, would not sanction a move.
“The year Jose went and Ole came, it was my best season at United but after the last game I told Ole and Ed Woodward that I thought it was my last year and that I wanted to leave,” Pogba said.
“I was 27 back then, it didn’t work out the way I wanted. I gave my best but I didn’t see the club going upwards. Manchester City and Liverpool were better than us and they were improving.
“Ole said yes [to me leaving] and that he would talk to Ed. My head was already that I wanted to go but I came back for pre-season because I wanted to be professional. I spoke to Ed to try to make a move but he blocked it. I didn’t want to play for United anymore but I had to be professional. Mentally, I wasn’t there and then I got the injuries.”
EPL: I had my best season at Man Utd after Mourinho left — Pogba
