It was 2016. Manchester United fans were refreshing Twitter every six seconds, waiting for that #POGBACK announcement. When it finally hit—a world-record £89.3 million fee—it felt like the natural order of the universe had been restored. The prodigal son was back to save Old Trafford.
But looking back now in early 2026, the Man Utd Paul Pogba era feels like a fever dream that didn't quite make sense. It’s a story of "what ifs," spectacular long-range goals, and a lot of standing around with hands on hips while a manager screamed from the touchline. Honestly, it's one of the most polarizing careers in Premier League history.
The Highs, the Lows, and the "Virus" Label
Most people remember the fallout with Jose Mourinho. It started like a honeymoon but ended like a messy divorce. Mourinho once called him a "virus" in front of the whole dressing room. That’s harsh. Even for Jose.
But then you had the 2018 Manchester Derby. City were ready to win the league right in United's faces. Pogba turned into a man possessed, scored twice in two minutes, and delayed the party. That was the "Pogba experience" in a nutshell. Brilliant for 45 minutes, then anonymous for three weeks.
It wasn't all bad, though. You can't just ignore the trophies.
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- The 2017 Europa League (he scored in the final).
- The League Cup.
- A period under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer where he looked like the best midfielder on the planet.
Statistically, his 2018/19 season was actually insane. 13 goals and 9 assists in the league. He made the PFA Team of the Year. Yet, if you ask a United fan today, they’ll probably just talk about his agent, Mino Raiola, Stirring the pot every time a transfer window opened.
Why the Man Utd Paul Pogba Move Never Truly Worked
There's this theory that United never actually bought a "defensive" midfielder to let him play. In France’s 2018 World Cup winning team, he had N'Golo Kanté doing the running of three men. At Juventus, he had Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo.
At United? He often had Fred or Scott McTominay.
No disrespect to "McFred," but it’s like putting a Ferrari engine in a tractor. He was forced to play deeper, pick up the ball from the center-backs, and track runners. That’s just not what he does. He’s a "mezzala"—a creative spark who needs license to roam. When he didn't get it, he looked lazy. When he took too many touches and lost the ball, the pundits at Sky Sports went into a collective meltdown.
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The 2026 Perspective: Where is he now?
Fast forward to today, January 2025. Life after United hasn't been a fairy tale. His return to Juventus was plagued by a nightmare run of injuries and then that 18-month doping ban for DHEA.
Currently, he's trying to find his feet at AS Monaco after signing as a free agent in June 2025. The comeback hasn't been smooth. Reports from Monaco's sporting director, Thiago Scuro, suggest his body is still struggling. He’s managed only about 30 minutes of Ligue 1 football this season because of a recurring calf issue.
It’s kinda sad. We’re watching the twilight of a guy who should have had three Ballon d'Ors by now if talent was the only metric.
The Misconceptions About His "Attitude"
A lot of the hate directed at the Man Utd Paul Pogba era was about his hair or his dancing. Seriously. People acted like a blue mohawk was the reason United conceded from a corner.
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In reality, Pogba was often playing through pain. He’s been open about his struggles with depression during the Mourinho years. It’s a reminder that even when you’re earning £290k a week, being the scapegoat for a billion-pound club’s institutional failure sucks.
United’s recruitment was a mess. They bought him without a plan. They kept him too long when he wanted to go to Madrid. Then they let him walk for free—twice. That’s not a Pogba failure; that’s a board-level disaster.
Actionable Takeaways from the Pogba Saga
If you're a student of the game or just a fan trying to make sense of why certain "superstars" fail at big clubs, here’s the reality:
- System over Stars: Never buy a world-class player if you don't have the "water carriers" to support them. Pogba needed a destroyer behind him; United gave him a chaotic midfield.
- Timing is Everything: United should have sold him in 2019 when his value was peak. Holding onto a player who publicly wants a "new challenge" only tanks the dressing room morale.
- Context Matters: Before calling a player a "flop," look at their output. Pogba’s 39 goals and 51 assists at United aren't actually bad—they’re just not "£90 million savior" numbers.
The Man Utd Paul Pogba story is officially a closed chapter, but it’s the ultimate cautionary tale for the new INEOS leadership at Old Trafford. Don't buy the hype if you can't build the house.
To understand how United are moving past the "Pogba era" mistakes, you should look into their recent pivot toward younger, high-workrate profiles like Kobbie Mainoo, who offers the tactical discipline that Pogba often lacked. Studying the shift in United’s wage structure since 2023 also provides a clear picture of how they’re avoiding the "super-agent" traps that defined the mid-2010s.