Super-agent Mino Raiola has been speaking at length to the Financial Times. The ebullient 48-year-old has been revealing the negotiations behind Paul Pogba’s exit and re-entry to Manchester United.
 

POGBA PART 1 – On his client’s departure from Old Trafford to Turin he explained that; “When I first entered the room Sir Alex Ferguson told me that “I do not speak if the player in question is not present!” So then Paul enters and Ferguson asks him; “You don’t want to sign the contract Paul?” to which he replied; “No, not with these conditions absolutely not”. Pogba was visibly angry so I explained to Ferguson that my Chihuahua would not even sign a contract like this and that Paul would need to earn more money”. Juventus wanted him at all costs but I was sceptical at first because the bianconeri are a club who have little patience with young players. I said to Pogba; “This may not be the right move for you” but he was insistent so I asked him; “Why do you want to go there?” to which he replied; “Because in life I have always chosen the most difficult road”.  

POGBA PART 2 – When he started talking about his client’s return to the “Theatre of Dreams” Raiola declared that; “I told Pogba that I thought he should go to a club that needed him. Manchester United needed him and Ibrahimovic so what you see is a culmination of two-year’s hard work bringing Paul back to England”. He added that; “I don’t want to go into detail about the transfer but what I will say is that Juventus was not the sole holder of the rights of the player”.
 

ON BALOTELLI – Finally, a word on another player from the Raiola stable, Mario Balotelli. Raiola again; “The big mistake was to make him go from Manchester City to Milan, which was against my will. I told him that “You have success here at City and I think had he stayed he would have enjoyed more of that success”.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler