United Beyond Manchester

Manchester United are in the midst of a historically bad season. With just 13 matches to go in the Premier League, the Reds sit 15th with 29 points, less than half of the total of rivals Liverpool.

Ahead of Sunday’s loss to Tottenham, matters were made worse by an injury crisis that began in training. Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Toby Collyer, and Amad Diallo all went down, and Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro became late additions to the injury report. This led to Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro as the only two senior midfielders available for the loss, and Ruben Amorim filled the bench with academy talent.

Paul Pogba Rumors Circulate

Amidst the injury crisis, there are rumors that Manchester United might pursue Paul Pogba once he is eligible to play again in March. Club legends Rio Ferdinand and Louis Saha have shared their thoughts, suggesting that a short-term contract could be advantageous for Amorim’s team.

However, there may be far more reasons to not sign Paul Pogba than there are to bring him back to Manchester.

Why United Should Avoid Resigning Pogba

Paul Poba’s talent is undeniable and has been since he was a young player. However, there are two main reasons why Manchester United simply should not sign the Frenchman through the end of the season.

Injuries

During the latter part of his second stint with Manchester United, Paul Pogba was plagued by injury issues. Ankle problems sidelined him for over 290 days in the 2019/2020 season, and the following season saw a recurrence of these issues, along with multiple hamstring injuries that caused him to miss an additional 26 matches.

Upon his return to Juventus, Pogba continued to struggle with injuries, making only 12 appearances over two seasons before receiving a doping ban. His return to Turin was marred by a total of eight injuries, including further hamstring problems and knee surgery.

Off-Field Drama

Paul Pogba’s current suspension from football for a positive doping test is just one of many off-field issues that have kept him in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. The 31-year-old is not even eligible to return until mid-March, leaving any club that signs him little time to acclimate him to the squad.

Before the positive doping test in September 2023, Pogba was in a legal battle with his brother Matthias over an extortion plot. The older Pogba made allegations against Paul in a video, including that he hired a witch doctor to place a spell on Kylian Mbappe. Eventually, Matthias was arrested and charged with blackmail.

At club level, the World Cup winner also had documented spats with Jose Mourinho, causing issues in the dressing room.

Given Manchester United’s current struggles on the pitch, adding Paul Pogba could potentially lead to more complications. Known for attracting drama, the French midfielder’s presence might distract the team from focusing on improving their on-field performance. Instead, Amorim should focus on utilizing and nurturing the talented academy midfielders available, such as Jack Moorhouse, Jack Fletcher, and Sekou Kone.