José Mourinho breaks transfer record to sign Juventus midfielder
• 23-year-old returns to the club he left four years ago
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| Paul Pogba has returned to Manchester United, the club he left four years ago, for a world record £93.2m and the 23-year-old has agreed a five-year contract. Photograph: Manchester United/Man Utd via Getty Images |
Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Paul Pogba for a world record fee of €110m (£93.2m) from Juventus, with José Mourinho challenging the France midfielder “to be at the heart of this club for the next decade and beyond”.
The 23-year-old flew to Manchester on Monday to be assessed by United’s medical staff in order to clear the final hurdle of the summer’s most high-profile and protracted transfer. He was pictured at the club’s Carrington training ground after arriving on a private jet from Nice.
Pogba, who left United in 2012 to join Juventusafter growing frustrated with his lack of opportunities under Sir Alex Ferguson, was later confirmed as a United player in the small hours of Tuesday morning.
“Manchester United is delighted to announce thatPaul Pogba has completed his transfer from Italian club Juventus. Paul joins on a five-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year,” read a statement on United’s website.
Pogba added: “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.”
Mourinho – who won his first trophy as United manager on Sunday, his side beating Leicester City 2-1 to win the Community Shield – has already added Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to his squad this summer after replacing Louis van Gaal. United kick off their Premier League season at Bournemouth on Sunday.
“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,” said Mourinho.
“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.”
The final details of the deal were settled last week when Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, met Juventus officials in Turin. The Italian champions had been asking United to make all necessary payments to Raiola but have agreed to give him a fee for his work on the deal. He will also receive around €20m from United. Pogba’s fee places him ahead of former Tottenham forward Gareth Bale as the world’s most expensive player.
Mourinho has indicated that Pogba’s arrival will signal the end of United’s significant transfer business this summer, having targeted four players.
“Our fundamental market is 75% done,” he said last weekend, “and when we sign one midfield player that crucial work will be done.” The manager did not rule out further purchases, though. “Sometimes things happen that you are not expecting, and we have to react,” he said.
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