Bacary Sagna believes that Paul Pogba would be open to the opportunity of returning to Manchester United for a third stint, especially under the guidance of current manager Ruben Amorim.
The 31-year-old French World Cup winner is currently without a club after leaving Juventus earlier this month. Pogba’s second spell at the Serie A club was short-lived, with only 12 appearances before his career was interrupted by a doping scandal.
In September 2023, Pogba received a four-year ban for testing positive for a banned substance. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later reduced the suspension to 18 months, ruling that the substance was ingested unintentionally. As a result, Pogba will be eligible to return to training in January 2024 and resume competitive play by March.
Despite these setbacks, Pogba’s undeniable talent remains intact, and a potential reunion with United could be on the cards, according to his former France teammate Sagna. The former Arsenal and Manchester City defender believes that Pogba would thrive under Amorim’s leadership.
Speaking to Mega Dice, Sagna said:
“The situation at Manchester United is very different now compared to when Paul was last there. They have a young, dynamic coach who understands the game from a player’s perspective. Amorim would likely welcome someone like Paul into the fold. As someone who knows Paul well, I can tell you he truly loves United.”
Looking back at Pogba’s previous stint at Old Trafford, Sagna pointed out that some of the challenges were due to the club’s overall struggles during that time:
“I’ve spoken to Paul many times, and his love for United is genuine. The issues he faced weren’t entirely on him—it was a tough period for the club, and many players found it difficult to perform then.”
Manchester United’s midfield has been stretched this season due to injuries to Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte. Their recent 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town highlighted the strain, with both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen being substituted during the match.
If Pogba is available in March, he could provide a high-quality option to strengthen United’s midfield. While it’s unclear whether Amorim views Pogba as part of his long-term plans, Sagna’s comments suggest that a return to Old Trafford may not be entirely out of the question.
