Man United Offically Re-Sign Paul Pogba to Make Him the Most Expensive Transfer in Football

Paul Pogba becomes the world’s most expensive transfer after sealing a move to Old Trafford.

Following protracted negotiations with Juventus and Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola, Man United have finally officially unveiled the Frenchman as their fourth summer signing under new manager Jose Mourinho. The 23-year-old midfielder will now bear the burden of being the most expensive transfer in football history, surpassing the £85 million (€100+ million) deal that saw Gareth Bale move from Tottenham to Real Madrid three years earlier.

Sky Sports reports the world-record move to be worth £89 million (€105 million), while The Guardian puts the figure at around the £93.2 million (€110 million) to seal Pogba signature – a player that left Old Trafford in 2012 on a free transfer. Either way, it makes Pogba the most expensive transfer and the first world record-breaking player to be signed by Manchester United in the history of the club, while Newcastle were the last English club to set a world record when they signed Alan Shearer from the Blackburn Rovers in 1996 for £15 million. The last five record-breaking deals were all completed by 11-time Champions League winners Real Madrid, dating all the way back to the year 2000 when they purchased Luis Figo from Barcelona for £37 million (€62 million).

“I am delighted to rejoin United,” commented Pogba on Man United official website, who has chosen to wear the No. 6 on his back. “It has always been a club with a special place in my heart and I am really looking forward to working with Jose Mourinho. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Juventus and have some fantastic memories of a great club with players that I count as friends. But I feel the time is right to go back to Old Trafford. I always enjoyed playing in front of the fans and can’t wait to make my contribution to the team. This is the right club for me to achieve everything I hope to in the game.”

“I’m sure Mourinho will make me a better player and a better person.” – @PaulPogba #POGBACK https://t.co/5CxVG31pf1

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) 9. kolovoza 2016.

Man United boss Mourinho has lavished praise on the French International who has recently guided his country to the final of Euro 2016 as they finished runner-ups to eventual winners Portugal – Mourinho’s native country.

“Paul is one of the best players in the world and will be a key part of the United team I want to build here for the future. He is quick, strong, scores goals and reads the game better than many players much older than he is,” said the Special One about the world’s most expensive transfer. “At 23, he has the chance to make that position his own here over many years. He is young and will continue to improve; he has the chance to be at the heart of this club for the next decade and beyond.”

Pogba has made a total of 178 appearances and scored 34 goals overall for the Turin side, where he enjoyed a highly successful four-year spell in which he won four straight Serie A titles and even two Coppa Italia medals in his last two seasons. A Champions League medal is the only accolade that eluded him throughout his stay in Italy, as they finished runner-ups to Barcelona in the 2015 final in Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

Before agreeing to Pogba’s most expensive transfer move to Man United, Juventus have already splashed the cash on Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain for a reported €90 million (£75+ million) fee. The vast portion of the cash they receive from the Old Trafford side will go directly into Napoli’s account for the man that scored a whopping 38 goals last season, as they big to remain competitive in Italy and in Europe.

The world’s most expensive transfer decides to wear the “devil’s number” for the Red Devils – quite appropriate
(Image credit: Man United Twitter)

With all his transfer targets now completed, Mourinho will be vying to win the Premier League for the first time since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013 – the final time they’ve clinched the trophy. Online sportsbook Paddy Power still favours cross-town rivals Man City for the title next season 3.10 (21/10), while Man United are right behind with odds of 4.50 (7/2).

(For more info about the online sportsbook, check out Paddy Power Sports Review at Betting Herald.)

Mourinho’s men defeated Leicester City 2-1 in the Community Shield on Sunday, which could prove vital for their confidence as they embark on one of the biggest challenges in world football – conquering the English top division. Man United 1.72 (8/11) open their 2016/17 account against Bournemouth away 5.00 (4/1) on August 14, with a draw between the two standing at 3.50 (5/2), per online sportsbook Paddy Power.

Including Pogba’s world-record deal, the club has spent in excess of £157 (€185 million) on their new recruits in the current transfer window, so fans will undoubtedly have high expectations for the upcoming campaign. Henrikh Mkhitaryan was purchased from Borussia Dortmund for £35.70 million (€42 million) and Eric Bailly was signed from Villarreal for around £32.30 (€38 million), while Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined the club on a Bosman transfer after his deal with PSG expired earlier in the summer.

With a crop of new talented players that includes the world’s most expensive transfer in Pogba, Man United are likely to go far in the Premier League this upcoming season. It wouldn’t be presumptuous to place a bet on them clinching the league title ahead of Man City, considering Mourinho’s experience in the English top flight, which he won on three occasions (2005, 2006 and 2015).