FORMER LIVERPOOL BOSS Graeme Souness has renewed hostilities with Manchester United’s Paul Pogba ahead of Sunday’s season-opener, claiming he would not want the midfielder in his dressing room if he was in charge at Old Trafford.
France international Pogba has endured an unsettling summer, but has offered reassurances to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he will not create a divide in the dressing room, and is even understood to be under consideration for the club’s captaincy ahead of the new campaign.
The 2018 World Cup winner became the subject of almost constant speculation during the off-season, with a purported move to Real Madrid and subsequent rumours regarding his old club Juventus top of the agenda.
However, ex-Scotland international and Sky Sports pundit Souness, who has a history of launching scathing attacks on the 26-year-old in front of the cameras, has questioned whether the player remains fully committed ahead of the Red Devils’ curtain-raiser with Chelsea.
Romelu Lukaku, who left the club to join Inter on Thursday after a similarly destabilising spell, has also found himself in the line of fire, with suggestions that the pair are the reason United missed out on Champions League qualification last season.
Writing in his Sunday Times column, Souness said:
If I’m sitting in United’s dressing room, I’m glad Lukaku has gone and don’t want Pogba in there with me either if he’s not up for the fight ahead and is also keen to get away.
“They’re as responsible as anybody for the predicament United are in, yet have effectively said to their team-mates: ‘It’s everybody else’s fault’.
“No, let’s get it right, lads, you’re part of the reason United are not in the Champions League this year.
“Real Madrid are looking to nick Pogba on the cheap because they’re suspicious of his form, while Inter haggled over the asking price for Lukaku because he didn’t pull up any trees at United either.”
United forward Marcus Rashford, who could play a pivotal role up front following Lukaku’s move to Italy, also found himself being questioned by the former Rangers and Newcastle boss.
The 21-year-old, alongside the likes of Anthony Martial, will form the backbone of Solskjaer’s attack, but Souness says the England man might not be up to the job.
“I’m not convinced he’s ready for it yet,” he added. “It’s not ideal and it would not have happened under (former manager) Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson).”
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And United fans still wish Souness was in charge at Liverpool.
There’s a rumour that Souness smiled once. Nasty rumour to spread.
Souness is obsessed with Pogba..
@John Barry: and the 42 are obsessed with Souness’ obsession with Pogba.
Zzzzzz …
Getting sad at this stage
‘Former Liverpool Boss’, ‘Ex Scotland International’, ‘Former Rangers and Newcastle Boss’.
Think you leftout a few lads. what about Previous Galatasary legend, and ex Southampton flop?
@Ardmore02: I think he won trophies at every club he managed except for Newcastle
@padar: you can add torino, benfica and Southampton to that list.
@Ardmore02: I,m old enough to remember him in his pomp playing for Liverpool, great midfielder, tough f….r, similar to Keane at Utd, (but not quiet as good). Some think he is a p…k, but can’t take away what he did as a player.
Here we go and he hasn’t kicked a ball yet. That Souness is some fcukin spa
No utd must keep pogba coz as long as he’s there they’ll win f*** all
@Dan2078: already won trophies with pogba
@Brian Dunne: but have they won the trophies that matter – PL, champions league? And they won’t with Pogba. He is a good player but the prob is he thinks he’s better than he is
@Dan2078: the lad has won a bloody World Cup mate
@IAmTheTruth: he likes playing for France, has good players to carry him. Come back to me when he wins something of merit with utd and you have something insightful to contribute
@Dan2078: where is your cave at?
@Dan2078: Dan your argument is as pathetic as yourself
@mark: why, do u want to call over?
@Ruairi McEntegart: thanks, I love you too
As a utd fan he’s dead right.
.
Reminds me of when Dunphy had a personal vendetta against Cristiano. Calling him a clown and a spoofer every week as Ronaldo struggled yo find consistency. Dunphy labelled Linekar a clown for saying Ronaldo might be the world’s best. The when CR7 won his first Ballon D’Or, Dunphy made some embarrassing comment how he hated CR7 because he’s rich and good looking.
I wonder what Sounness will say when Pogba wins a Ballon D’Or at Madrid? That the reason he hated him all along is because Pogba’s bird is way better than his own?
@Stanley Baggins: souness is no Dunphy; he knows what he’s talking about. Dunphy just made it up as he went (a true spoofer)
@Stanley Baggins: Ballon d’Ope will be the only thing pogba will win
Stfu sourness no utd fan or employee of club gives a crap what u think