Sanjeevani Dhakal
After weeks of link-up and huge media coverage, Manchester United have finally signed Paul Pogba in a £110m deal. The Frenchman has joined on a five-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year. The midfielder has been capped by France on 38 occasions, scoring 6 goals and was a member of the recent squad that reached the final of Euro 2016.
“I am delighted to rejoin United. It has always been a club with a special place in my heart and I am really looking forward to working with José Mourinho. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Juventus and have some fantastic memories of a great club with players that I count as friends. But I feel the time is right to go back to Old Trafford. I always enjoyed playing in front of the fans and can’t wait to make my contribution to the team. This is the right club for me to achieve everything I hope to in the game.”
José Mourinho said:
“Paul is one of the best players in the world and will be a key part of the United team I want to build here for the future. He is quick, strong, scores goals and reads the game better than many players much older than he is. At 23, he has the chance to make that position his own here over many years. He is young and will continue to improve; he has the chance to be at the heart of this club for the next decade and beyond.”
United youngster James Wilson is set to head to Birmingham City for a loan deal this summer. The player spent last season on loan at Brighton wherein he scored five goals for the club. Birmingham City are looking to bolster their front line and bringing in Wilson will help them in the same.
Mourinho feels he has options in attack with Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to enable Wilson to go out on loan in search of regular first-team football.
A number of Championship clubs have expressed an interest in Wilson and Birmingham boss Gary Rowett is hoping to win the race for the 20-year-old.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic states that Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs he had played for so far, having scored the winning goal against Leicester City in the Community Shield match on Sunday. United turned victorious by 2-1 against the Foxes.
Speaking after the game, he said:
“Feels good, first official game, we play for the trophy and we win. That’s what it’s all about, winning trophies.
“This is my 31st trophy and I’m super happy, this is why I came and hopefully I can win much more than this.”
Asked if he has settled in nicely, Ibrahimovic replied: “I feel very good, the team is fantastic, good team-mates, good spirit, good professional players, and the coach, everybody knows the coach. He wants to win, and he does everything to win.
“And the club, outside the team is probably the biggest club I’ve played in. The only one I can compare is Milan. And I’m very honoured and proud to be here.”
