Paul Pogba is not leaving Old Trafford this summer as his agent, Mino Raiola, confirmed that the French midfielder is set to talk business with Manchester United executives soon. There is no definite extension yet for the 27-year-old but one thing is clear - Pogba is hands-off to prospective buyers.
The latest update from Raiola indicated that Pogba has been marked as an important element at United and the player is listed as among the key members of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's roster. The Red Devils are on an important project for the upcoming campaign and the Frenchman is integral to the mission's success.
"United will not accept any bid this summer. We're going to speak about a new contract soon, no stress," BBC reported Pogba's agent as saying.
The statement served as the strongest hint so far that the World Cup winner will keep wearing the United shirt, at least through the end of his existing deal with the club. Pogba's deal will run until next summer but United can activate the option of extending to another 12 months, indicating that the star will be with the team for another two years.
Yet the hint from Raiola that a new deal could be agreed upon in the coming weeks seemed to boost the likelihood of Pogba adding more years to his contract with United. Recent reports have suggested that he could ink an agreement soon that will add there more years of playtime with the team.
If true, the development will see Pogba contradicting his behavior in the past seasons in which he tried twice to exit from the club. He was then linked to a possible transfer to Real Madrid or a return to Juventus.
But both scenarios failed to materialize and Pogba's desire to switch seemed to have been canceled out by two important events. First, the COVID-19 pandemic had left all football clubs struggling with their finances, thus making it more difficult for interested sides to make a bid on the United man.
Then there was the resurgence at the start of the year that saw the Red Devils picking up more wins and finishing fourth in the Premier League. Solskjaer's side has won a spot on the Champions League next season and the roster is continuing to build up, giving a solid reason for Pogba to stay.
Pogba signing a new deal with United will constitute a turnaround for the Frenchman, Metro reported, adding that he was set to leave the club in 2019 as indicated by a reported informal agreement with Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman.
That pact supposedly stated that Pogba is cleared to leave in the summer of 2020 provided there will be "suitable offers." It would seem though that such offers are absent and the Red Devils are in a better position to win titles next season, giving no reason for the United star to leave.
