Paul Pogba considered leaving Manchester United towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure, but is much happier since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over, his brother has said.
Pogba started the final three matches under Mourinho on the bench before being restored to a starring role once Solskjaer came in, scoring six goals and contributing nine assists in that time.
“Things were not going well under Mourinho,” Mathias Pogba told Telefoot. “Now that Solskjaer has given him the keys to the team, so to speak, things have started up again. That’s what my little brother needs.
“Of course that [leaving] crosses your mind But now, he is where he is.
“He was under contract, and above all he had to just keep quiet, grit his teeth, and keep working.”
Mathias also said his brother had considered leaving whilst Mourinho was at the helm and Solskjaer, who Paul worked under during his time in United’s reserves, knows how to motivate the World Cup winner.
“As Solskjaer had Paul with the reserve team, he knows exactly what to say and how to say it to Paul,” he said. “And when you give my little brother that responsibility, you will only see the best of him.”
Meanwhile, goalkeeper David De Gea said Pogba’s form has been key to United closing the gap in the race for the top four.
“He is very young, but he has a lot of character and personality, on the pitch,” the Spain international said. “That’s always positive for a team like us.
“Right now, he is scoring a lot of goals, that helps us. but I think he’s the same player as three or four months ago, with great qualities.He’s very important for us.
“The closer Paul is to the penalty box, the more balls he gets in the zone of truth, and that’s better for us because it’s more dangerous for our opponents.
“He scores goals, he has a lot of talent, and excellent vision, that’s very important for us.”
Information from ESPN FC’s Ian Holyman was used in this report