Paul Pogba was “told off” by former Juventus teammate Claudio Marchisio over his transfer to Man Utd, who claimed the Frenchman had made a mistake.
The pair featured in the same Juventus side during Pogba’s spell at the club from 2012-2016, prior to his mega-money return to United.
His second stint at United has not gone as well as first hoped, and he has now been linked with a switch back to Juventus this summer.
And Marchisio has already been on Pogba’s case about him returning to play for the Old Lady.
“Last year I met him at a private event and told him off, saying he got it wrong when deciding to go to Manchester and should’ve remained with the Bianconeri,” Marchisio told Sport Mediaset (via Football Italia ).
(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
“Now things have changed a bit, the Juve midfield has changed, but I hope he returns, because it’d be good for both parties.
“He already knows Serie A, would increase the quality in a squad that is formidable anyway.”
Pogba’s chances of a move elsewhere have been hampered by the coronavirus crisis, which is set to have a knock-on impact on clubs transfer spending.
United are still keen on holding onto Pogba’s services and are hoping their mini-revival following the signing of Bruno Fernandes will convince the midfielder to stay put.
But former United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Pogba may be better off plying his trade outside of England.
“If I’m him and I’ve been treated the way he has with the media etc I’d be saying, ‘You know what I don’t need this in my life,” Ferdinand said.
“There’s more to life than coming here and getting criticised when he’s not even playing. Why be a part of that?’
“If I was him, honestly…. United fans won’t thank me for it but I’d be thinking that.
“I think it’s unfair some of the criticism he gets and some of that is based on social media presence which I think is ridiculous.
“Some players in my era did far worse things that would influence the dressing room but it got swept under the carpet. I don’t get it.
“He’s a player, he lives and breathes football, social media goes before him a lot of the time I believe.”
