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Paul Pogba remains one of the French national team’s shining lights but he is still struggling to hit those same heights at Manchester United.
Since returning to Manchester United in 2016 for an initial £89.3million, the 29-year-old midfielder has endured plenty of scrutiny over inconsistent performances and off-field issues.
With his contract at Old Trafford set to expire this summer, recent comments seem to suggest a change of scenery could be on the cards.
Ahead of Les Bleus’ friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa, we take a closer look at Pogba’s situation.
Read Also: Pogba’s World Cup Winner’s Medal Stolen in Recent Burglary
The impending expiry of Pogba’s current deal with the Red Devils has prompted conflicting reports over his future recently.
Suggestions of his willingness to stay put in Manchester have been met in equal measure by claims he is desperate to depart, leaving supporters in the dark.
However, the man himself finally shed some light on the situation this week when speaking to Parisian publication Le Figaro.
Pogba said: “You have to be honest, the last five seasons [at Old Trafford] have not satisfied me really not at all.
“This year it is dead, we won’t win anything. Whether it is with Manchester United or at another club, I want to win trophies.
“It’s simple with France, I play and I play in my position I know my role and I feel the confidence of the coach and the players.
“I get along very well with [Didier Deschamps], he gave me a role that I know, but at Manchester United do I have a role? I ask the question but I don’t have an answer.”
Few would argue with Pogba’s assessment of United’s last five campaigns and a player of his quality should certainly be challenging for trophies every season.
Yet his comments will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of many United fans, who will feel the enigmatic midfielder is one of several highly-paid stars to underperform far too often in that period.
At his brilliant best, Pogba has shown himself to be near unplayable. Yet such displays have been irregular.
Perhaps that lack of consistency is indeed down to a lack of permanent position.
Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick have all been guilty of trialling Pogba in a range of roles during their respective stints in charge — be it holding midfield, attacking midfield or out on a flank.
However, those bosses would surely argue that it is only the player’s inconsistency and versatility which has seen him struggle to nail down a single spot in their XI.