Paul Pogba claims his and Jose Mourinho’s relationship was similar to that of a ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’.
He has also revealed how Manchester United’s former CEO Ed Woodward rejected his wishes to the leave the club in 2019.
Pogba and Mourinho spent two-and-a-half seasons together at UnitedGetty Images – Getty
Pogba has spoken to the media just two weeks after his four-year ban from football for doping was reduced to 18 months.
His career began at United and after a four-season spell at Juventus, he returned to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016.
Mourinho was appointed as the club’s manager in the same summer but it’s well-known that the pair did not get along together.
Pogba was regularly benched by his boss during the first half of the 2018/19 campaign amid poor form and labelled a ‘virus’ in the dressing room.
However, six years after they parted ways when Mourinho was sacked, the midfielder has recalled his relationship with the Portuguese icon.
“Our relationship was like boyfriend and girlfriend, we were breaking up and making up all the time,” he told the Daily Mail.
“It started great, he was one of the reasons I went back to Manchester because I spoke to him and he convinced me to come back. I don’t know why it turned into a nightmare and us fighting. Because I wasn’t fighting. I didn’t start the fight.
“We disagreed like managers and players do sometimes. But there’s a lot of respect from me to him. If I see him tomorrow it’s a big hug! But one day we will have to sit down together and discuss it.”
United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Mourinho and Pogba scored 11 goals in 27 appearances throughout the rest of the 2018/19 season.
Despite his strong form the now 31-year-old hinted at a potential exit in search of a ‘new challenge’ that following summer, and has now revealed how such a move away was blocked.
Pogba and Mourinho appeared to fall out at Old Traffordgetty
The midfielder spoke on how was denied the chance to leave earlier than he didGetty
In the same interview, Pogba continued: “I will tell you something I’ve never told anyone.
“The year Jose went and Ole came, it was my best season at United but after the last game I told Ole and Ed Woodward that I thought it was my last year and that I wanted to leave.
“I was 27 back then, it didn’t work out the way I wanted. I gave my best but I didn’t see the club going upwards. Manchester City and Liverpool were better than us and they were improving. Ole said yes [to me leaving] and that he would talk to Ed.
“My head was already that I wanted to go but I came back for pre-season because I wanted to be professional. I spoke to Ed to try to make a move but he blocked it.
“I didn’t want to play for United anymore but I had to be professional. Mentally I wasn’t there and then I got the injuries.”
Pogba left United in 2022 and is currently at Juventus, with his return to football potentially set to come later this season following the reduction in his doping ban.
He tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in his system and the Italian Anti-Doping National Tribunal issued the sanction in February.
Pogba has taken responsibility for his doping banSky Sports News YouTube
During an interview with Sky Sports that was released on Wednesday, he accepted responsibility but believes the initial four-year ban, which has now been reduced to 18 months, was harsh.
“Yes, of course [he accepts responsibility]. That means I take responsibility of yes, I took the supplement,” he said.
“I didn’t triple check, let’s put it like that, even if it came from a professional. If I have to be punished, I’m fine with it. But it should never be four years.”
Asked why he took the drug, he said: “I would tell you the whole story, but the easy way is I would get you the document.
“Then you can see it for yourself, it explains everything. That’s the only thing I would say.
“Not at all [to do with fitness], seriously you have all the answers [in the document], it was just general stuff. It had nothing to do with injury and nothing to do with the document.
“It’s like supplements that you would take. Probably you would take it, you go to the pharmacy and get the supplements. In my case it was totally different as it was given by a professional for just having a supplement just for the normal health. But there was a mistake there.”