Pogba completes record deal
August 9, 2016
Paul Pogba has completed his move from Juventus to Manchester United for a world record fee, reported to be around 120 million euros ($133 million).
The deal was confirmed by Manchester United in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with the 23-year-old French international signing a five-year deal at Old Trafford, four years after he left the club for the Italian champions.
In a statement released by United, Pogba said: "I am delighted to rejoin United. It has always been a club with a special place in my heart and I am really looking forward to working with Jose Mourinho.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Juventus and have some fantastic memories of a great club with players that I count as friends.
"But I feel the time is right to go back to Old Trafford. I always enjoyed playing in front of the fans and can't wait to make my contribution to the team. This is the right club for me to achieve everything I hope to in the game.”
The transfer, which rumbled on throughout the summer because of a dispute about the fee for Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, eclipses the 100 million euros Real Madrid paid for Gareth Bale in 2013.
Pogba, who has 38 caps for France and was an integral member of the France side that reached the final of Euro 2016, becomes Jose Mourinho's fourth major summer signing after Henrik Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund, Eric Bailly from Villarreal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Paris Saint-Germain.
Mourinho had hinted for several days that confirmation of the deal was close, and the Portuguese said Pogba was integral to the United team he hopes to build.
“Paul is one of the best players in the world and will be a key part of the United team I want to build here for the future," Mourinho said.
"He is quick, strong, scores goals and reads the game better than many players much older than he is. At 23, he has the chance to make that position his own here over many years. He is young and will continue to improve; he has the chance to be at the heart of this club for the next decade and beyond.”
Pogba will train with his new United teammates on Tuesday and will be available for selection for United's first game of the season, at Bournemouth on August 14.