Varun Pai
Transfer News: Mino Raiola causing problems for Manchester United in contract negotiations with Paul Pogba
According to the latest transfer news on AS (h/t The Express), Mino Raiola, who is the agent of Paul Pogba, is making it hard for Manchester United to discuss a new contract with the French superstar.
The 28-year-old is yet to make a decision over his long-term future at Old Trafford as the January transfer window nears. The French international has played in every league game for the Red Devils this season and is tops of the club’s assist charts with seven contributions to his name.
The Red Devils are keen to hack out a deal with the midfielder and keep him at the club beyond the end of the current season. It will however prove to be challenging.
Raiola wants Pogba to leave Man United?
It is in fact, all the harder now as the player’s agent Mino Raiola, is ‘purposely’ stalling talks with the 13-time Premier League champions.
It is thought that the Italian agent will only be ready to discuss the future of his client with United in April 2022 i.e., towards the end of his contract. This is a potential issue for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co, as Pogba could then enter into negotiations with any club in the winter transfer window.
In fact, Real Madrid are already ready to step up their interest and conclude a pre-contract in January. The Spanish giants had cooled off their interest in the Frenchman initially after Zinedine Zidane departed the club earlier this year. It appears to have gained new life now.
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However, they are now seeing it as a ‘market opportunity’, given that the player could become available on a free deal next summer. It is also said that the European heavyweights believe that signing the French international would also make it easier for them to attract Kylian Mbappe to the club.
Thus, with Mino Raiola firm on his stance, it remains to be seen whether the Old Trafford outfit finds a way to convince Pogba to put pen to paper on a new contract before the end of 2021.
