Waiting For Pogba

ManUtd.com’s Adam Marshall discusses Paul Pogba's return after Manchester United completed the signing of the midfield star...

Three years ago, while we waited to board the bus back to Stockholm Airport in Sweden after a pre-season friendly, a Manchester United player suggested that Paul Pogba would be keen on the idea of rejoining the Reds.

It seemed something of a pipe dream at the time, the Frenchman having conquered Serie A with his masterful midfield displays at Juventus and fulfilling the potential that was evident from his very first appearances for United's Under-18s.

Pogba is a phenomenon and clearly one of the best players in the world but the feeling persisted that it would be difficult to bring him back to Old Trafford. Despite the knowledge the emerging superstar would be open to such a transfer, world-record deals do not happen overnight.

It is perplexing to see claims the 23-year-old was released by United as this was not the case. He was offered a new contract but chose instead to join Juventus. Nonetheless, he is grounded in United's principles and teachings and this makes any player attractive as a first-team option. All the better when he is a player Jose Mourinho has coveted so strongly and somebody who is already world class and is only going to improve further.

Pogba's time in the lower age groups at United will stand him in good stead. An instant hit with the Under-18s after a difficult move from Le Havre was finalised, anyone who witnessed his debut against Crewe Alexandra in October 2009 realised he was something special. Even those not prone to using superlatives were waxing lyrical about his ability.

I described him thus in his player profile at the time: "He is powerful, skilful, creative, has stamina, vision to pick out key passes, an eye for goal and a penchant for the spectacular. Sometimes it can all look too easy for the midfielder, who has perfected the pirouette on the ball and is always graceful in possession."

He may have scored within 11 minutes of his full Reserves debut but he was not given an easy ride with Warren Joyce's team - far from it. The coach would devote a lot of his attention on the touchline to barking instructions to the midfielder, drilling a work ethic and mindset into him that has clearly served the France international well.

The details of the first, brief chapter of Pogba's United career are well documented but I have some personal memories of his stint here. He remains the only player I have ever seen sent off for taking a penalty incorrectly, for a start! There was the time he broke off from a half-time team talk by Paul McGuinness to start practising his short passes with me, my inability to keep a decent rhythm hindered by wearing work shoes. That's my excuse anyway. It showed the enthusiasm he has for playing the game as he was itching for the restart.

I recall attending a game against Everton's Reserves when, during a break in play, he was perturbed by some of the Toffees youngsters' comments that United were only romping to victory because our players were older. "What about grandad at the back?" he jokingly enquired about David Weir in 2012. It was a fair point about the greying veteran defender, if cheekily made, and was an illustration of his cheek and self-assured stance.

It was also a strange feeling bumping into him at the Aon Training Complex when I knew he would be leaving for Italy. As a fan, it felt a little awkward considering my personal exasperation at the situation but he immediately acted in the same personable manner as always, flashing a broad grin and shaking my hand. He is a big personality and character but is likely to retain the grounded nature that is preached by Manchester United.

Finally, there was one Reserves game when he impressed me more than any of the spellbinding goals and skills you would see on MUTV on a regular basis. Pogba had already performed well against Bolton Wanderers in February 2012, doing enough to suggest he was worthy of another first-team call-up. There had been the suspicion, at times, he was growing frustrated at this level but not on this occasion and there was no resting on his laurels.

In the closing stages, United launched another raid in a bid for a winner that would take the team to the top of the table and he arrived on cue to head home. He celebrated with his brother in the crowd as though it was a major tournament rather than a game at Altrincham's Moss Lane.

These recollections sum up everything I believe should be present in a Manchester United player. Desire, confidence, humility and the realisation that, when you wear the red shirt, you always have to win. He already has the character of a Red and now, second time around, he can prove this time and time again in the first team as a key part of Mourinho's exciting new-look side.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be considered as representative of Manchester United Football Club.

Credit: Manutd.com