Interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has revealed that he will not attempt to convince Paul Pogba to stay at the club if the midfielder wants to leave in the summer.
Pogba’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season and he has been linked with several clubs including Juventus, PSG and Real Madrid in recent times.
Pogba is currently sidelined through injury | Naomi Baker/GettyImagesHowever, as 90min reported in July, the World Cup winner is in no rush to decide his future and wishes to evaluate all of his options before making a decision.
Pogba is yet to work with Rangnick – who took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer until the summer recently – as he’s currently injured, but that has not stopped the German having his say on his long-term future.
“I wouldn’t say he is not worth keeping but players need to want to stay and play for the club,” Rangnick said, in his latest pre-match press conference. “If a player doesn’t want to play for a club like Manchester United, even in the long term, I don’t think it makes sense to convince him to change his mind.
“This is such a massive club, with fantastic support, I don’t think anyone at the club should try to convince a player to stay.
“Let’s have him come back, get fully fit and training with the team, then we will see where we stand.”
Pogba’s United career has been largely frustrating, though it has been punctuated with moments of brilliance.
When asked what the 28-year-old should be focussing on in the short term, Rangnick added: “I have to get to know him. I have to speak to him. It is about being fully physically fit. The way we want to play is high intensity.
“It will take some time for him to get fully fit. Once he is fully fit, I see him as a midfielder rather than a striker or a left winger.
“The only thing of interest to me is how do we get him fully fit.
“He can be an important player, I am fully aware of that. But that is true for all the players. I am not only the coach of Paul Pogba. I am also the coach of all the other players.”
