At long last it appears that injuries-beleagured France national Paul Pogba may have a reason to stay on at Manchester United amidst the strong speculations circulating that he will leave this summer.
Pogba’s remark “This is the right club for me to achieve everything I hope to in the game …” made immediately after returning to the United fold from Juventus in 2016 has so far not been even remotely near realisation as he approaches the end of his fourth season back at Old Trafford and United’s fans have since grown disenchated with the French star.
Pogba had rejoined the club at the time when United had just appointed Jose Mourinho as their manager along with the recruitment of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly. United went on to claim two trophies that season but have since struck out with Pogba’s form fluctuating erratically, compounded by separate ankle injuries – the second of which required surgery in January.
The talented midfielder’s appearances on the pitch this season has been infrequent and until recently a summer exit appeared almost the only option available with the buzz in the grapevine that Real Madrid and Juventus are the most likely destinations. However, as things have suddenly turned out recently at the club with their lively resurgence on the pitch particularly after the signing of Portuguese dynamo Bruno Fernandes, it may no longer be a likelihood that United will enter the next season bereft of the services of their costly and controversial French midfield superstar.
While Pogba is not short of his share of critics besides having his shortcomings, particularly his questionable concentration in matches and his inconsistency in form, he can’t in all honesty be faulted for not being able to perform at his best commensurate with his full potential and talents, injuries notwithstanding, as the United teammates surrounding him are a few notches below the stars playing alongside him when he was a shining star at Juventus. For this reason alone the Frenchman can perhaps be forgiven for venting his frustrations at how his second stint at United has gone awry and eagerly yearning for an exit from the club.
Pogba had rejoined United bolstered by the hope of challenging for Champions League trophies and Premier League titles only to be demoralised by United’s inability and failure so far to challenge for either one. However, under Solskjaer, the silver lining in the dark clouds is finally beginning to emerge as the Norwegian’s hit rate in the transfer market is finally beginning to reap initial first fruits resulting in an upsurge of optimism surrounding the club.
To date, the Red Devils have recorded seven wins and three draws out of the last 10 games with the impressive statistics behind that unbeaten streak speaking for themselves. A total of 24 goals have been scored so far with no less than 17 magnificently poached since Bruno Fernandes’ debut appearance. All this is ample evidence that Manchester United’s on-pitch struggles earlier in the season are now at best fading memories.
Fernandes’ inspiring presence, on-pitch savvy and leadership qualities have in no small way regalvanised United and the transformation is so clearly evident and felt by all and sundry that even the absence of an £89-million World Cup-winning midfielder way has gone largely unnoticed since the Portuguese’s timely arrival.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Harry Maguire are all finally beginning to bring the best out of each other in their individual and joint quests to prove themselves rallying around Maguire in defense. Fred, Nemanja Matic and Anthony Martial are also gearing up into fine form with the latter just one strike off equalling the 17 he garnered in his debut season.
Already the players are almost unrecognisable from what they were when the campaign first began. And this rise of the phoenix has yet to factor in the inclusion of Marcus Rashford who has been out since January due to his back injuries but is certain to wrap up the campaign with his best goal tally to date with renewed vengeance and fervour when he returns.
Credit has to be given to Solskjaer for finally putting together a team that is now beginning to turn things around for United, one that is of late catching the interest of the French midfielder who has been reported to be doing extra training sessions in the hope of making a return to the pitch as soon as possible.
Just allow yourself to luxuriate in a moment of suspended indulgence to epiphanise a perfect vista with the prospect of an injury-free, on-form Pogba in a scinitillating midfield alliance with Fernandes and Fred.
The thought itself is almost other-worldly.