Paul Scholes' comment on Man Utd flop Paul Pogba couldn't have been further from truth

Paul Scholes’ belief that Manchester United misfire Paul Pogba would exceed away from Old Trafford was certainly proven wrong, while rumours of a potential return to Carrington for the midfielder continue to swirl. The French ace first touched down in Manchester at 16 and, after being let go and developing into a superstar at Juventus, made an £89.3million comeback in 2016.

Yet, this price tag became difficult to shake while his form disappointed, and after an inconsistent spell back at Old Trafford, he would be thrown back to the Old Lady six years on. In February, it was announced that the World Cup winner had tested positive for doping. His initial four-year ban was reduced to just 18 months, and after seeing his contract in Turin terminated by mutual consent last month, it allows him to find a new club this January and resume playing in matches from March.

Pogba far from set the world alight once again at Juventus prior to his ban, though, having played just 12 matches in his second spell there – a total of 213 minutes on the pitch – following his free transfer in July 2022. It proved to be far from the future that was predicted for him by Red Devils icon Scholes, who believed upon his second departure from United that the grass would be greener.

“I was there when he was a kid, and this lad has got absolutely everything you would want in a footballer and a midfield player,” Scholes told talkSPORT in 2022, hopeful for the future of wantaway star Pogba.

“His physique, he can run. I just don’t think he’s ever learned as a footballer; he constantly seems to make the same mistakes over and over again. It’s disappointing; it looks like he’s going to leave. He’ll go somewhere, a manager will get a grip of him, and I think he’ll do really well, as he did at Juventus.

“For some reason, at United, it hasn’t worked out. It’s a big disappointment. You see what he does with France. People view him the wrong way. He’s a nice lad. He wants to work and learn. I hope he goes on and does really well. We all know he’s got the ability and talent to be world-class.”

Another ex-United star, Louis Saha, now feels that Pogba will yet again stage a homecoming and could train with his former side come 2025. Pogba’s ability and talent is in need of being realised once again at the age of 31, as he awaits his return to football. And it could still be Scholes’ former employer who takes one last gamble on the Frenchman.

“I’ve heard some rumours that Paul Pogba will be offered the opportunity to come back and train with Man Utd in the New Year,” ex-Red Devil Saha told Casino Utan Spelpaus. “I think that would be a great opportunity for Paul.

“He needs to get back to his best level as quickly as possible, and training with top players will help him to do that. I think he would be thrilled to have the opportunity to go back to the club. I also believe that Paul Pogba is still a very special player. When you think about midfielders, Pogba has unique qualities.

“I think the United squad lacks power in the midfield, and we’re missing a skilful player that can play box-to-box, so he would be a good addition (to the United squad) because he’s a different profile of player to what United have. When I look at Pogba, I think that many teams in the Premier League would find signing him as a free agent an attractive proposition.

“Forget about the salary. I’m sure Paul is ready to find a compromise on that, as he wants to play football again after such a long time on the sidelines. When I think about Pogba, there are more positives to signing him than negatives, and I think he’s a player that should interest Manchester United in January.”