War of words between Solskjaer and Raiola; Pogba has been sidelined with ankle injury for majority of 2019-20 season; Frenchman's future at Old Trafford uncertain
Tuesday 18 February 2020 19:51, UK
Mino Raiola has hit out at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for comments he made about Paul Pogba, stating the midfielder is neither the agent's nor the Manchester United manager's "property".
Pogba, 26, has been absent for the majority of the 2019-20 campaign with an ankle injury and continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
The 2018 World Cup winner last played on Boxing Day, featuring for 45 minutes in United's 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
Solskjaer said before United's Premier League clash with Chelsea on Monday: "Paul is our player and not Mino's.
"I haven't sat down and told Paul to tell his agent what to say. I've not spoken to Mino, that's for sure."
On Monday evening, Pogba's representative Raiola responded on Instagram: "Paul is not mine and for sure not Solskjaer's property, Paul is Paul Pogba's...
"BUT BEFORE Solskjaer makes comments about things I say he should inform himself better about the content of what has been said. ⠀
"I am a free citizen who can think and express my thoughts. Until now I was maybe to nice to him. Solskjaer should just remember things that he said in the summer to Paul. ⠀
"I think Solskjaer may be frustrated for different reasons and is now mixing up some issues.
"I think that Solskjaer has other things to worry about. AT LEAST IF I WAS HIM I WOULD."
Responding to Raiola's comments, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said after United's 2-0 win at Chelsea: "This situation will end with Paul Pogba leaving Manchester United.
"What needs to happen is the club need to make a stance on that agent. That agent has messed them around now for years and years with Pogba and with other players as well.
"Why they allow themselves to be played by him, I'll never know. He's a serious thorn in the side of Manchester United."
Despite the impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea, all the talk post-match centred on Raiola's comments regarding Solskjaer's treatment of Pogba.
Despite Solskjaer appearing non-committal over the accusations levelled at him, the Manchester United boss said he "probably won't" speak to either about the situation.
"I don't have to comment through the media on Mino (Raiola) and what he has to say, I can probably speak to him myself but I probably won't," Ole Gunnar Solskjaer exclusively told Sky Sports.
"Everyone has a voice and an opinion and there's things being said about us (Manchester United) that you want to comment on but it's more clever if you don't.
"Paul (Pogba) and Mino have their conversations and that's fine."
Sky Sports' Gary Neville on Monday Night Football…
"This situation will end with Paul Pogba leaving Manchester United.
"What needs to happen is the club need to make a stance on that agent. That agent has messed them around now for years and years with Pogba and with other players as well.
"Why they allow themselves to be played by him, I'll never know. He's a serious thorn in the side of Manchester United. They need to stand strong and say they don't do business with this guy and if you are represented by him, we won't deal with you.
"He's publicly trying to embarrass the club all the time. At the end of the day, I'm sure he's defending his player and sticking up with Paul Pogba, but I don't think what Solskjaer said was an aggressive move against Pogba. He was saying that he's Manchester United's player, they paid 90-odd million for him and they want him to stay at the club and play well. He wasn't claiming ownership of him by any stretch of the imagination.
"But Raiola wants to create a situation. He wants Pogba out of the club and he wants his next pay-day off him. He's made tens and tens of millions of pounds off that player and he'll continue to do so for the rest of his playing career. He's the golden egg for Mino Raiola."
Sky Sports' Roy Keane on Monday Night Football…
"I think it's unfair for any manager [to be dragged into this situation] when you've had a very good result. I understand where the media have to come at him a little bit and ask the questions, but it's unfair that he has to come out and talk about an agent when he's just had a good victory. It's out of order.
"There have been a lot of noises coming out of Pogba's camp for a number of months. The simple thing I'd do is just move him on in the summer.
"Not that we don't think Pogba's a good player, he is, but there seems to be too much baggage with him and his agent. Just move him on and concentrate on what's right for the team and the club.
"Sometimes you have to lose to win. Let him go. I know it might backfire on you with missing out on Erling Haaland and all that, but if it's not right for the club and these agents are almost laughing at you, let these lads go. Look at the bigger picture.
"We are talking about a great club like Manchester United. Don't be chasing after these agents and players, who, at the bottom line, don't really want to be at the club. The agents don't want to be there, I don't think Pogba wants to be there so just shake hands and say off you go. He will go this summer, 100 per cent."
Pogba has featured for United just eight times this term, and Raiola has said that "Italy is like a second home" for the midfielder and that he would "not dislike" a move back to Serie A.
Real Madrid and Juventus have been reported as the two most likely destinations for Pogba if he leaves United this summer. He spent four years at the Allianz Stadium from 2012 to 2016.
The France international admitted he was seeking a "new challenge" in 2019, while Raiola indicated later last summer he was intent on finding a new club for his client.
Solskjaer was adamant Pogba would not be sold during the January transfer window and has adopted the same stance on the central midfielder's future since he became Manchester United manager.
Last month, Raiola exclusively told Sky Sports News that his "heart" was with United, but that he needs to be in a team which is competing in the Champions League.
Pogba returned for a second spell at Old Trafford from Juventus for a then-world record transfer fee of £93.25m in August 2016, and has since endured fractious relationships with both Solskjaer and former United boss Jose Mourinho.
