- Paul Pogba has been forced to play in a deeper role since Alexis Sanchez arrived
- Former Man United player Paul Ince believes Sanchez has affected Pogba’s form
- Jose Mourinho has played Pogba in a deeper role to accommodate others
- Ince would not be surprised if the Frenchman left Oldf Trafford this summer
The signing of Alexis Sanchez is to blame for Paul Pogba’s dip in form and it could force him out the door at Old Trafford, claims former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince.
Pogba was beginning to show glimpses of his very best form at the start of the season, but injury punctuated his season before Sanchez then arrived in January.
And Ince, who won seven trophies with United between 1989-1995, believes the Frenchman has been rattled by the arrival of another superstar.
Paul Pogba’s recent poor form is due to the arrival of Alexis Sanchez, believes Paul Ince
Sanchez was brought in last month and has taken some of the limelight off the Frenchman
‘Since Sanchez joined the club, Pogba’s confidence and mood seems to have gone in the opposite direction to earlier in the season,’ Ince wrote for Paddy Power.
‘He looks like a totally different player. It’s probably due to the fact that, pre-Sanchez, he was the main man. He was the kingpin and the one everyone was talking about.
‘But the arrival of Sanchez has taken the shine off him. What I would say is, at United, you’re all main men. You should all perform like that, too.’
Pogba was released by United in 2012 before he made a sensational return for £89million back in 2016 – then a world-record fee.
But after threatening to get back to his marauding best at the start of the campaign, boss Jose Mourinho has been forced to play him in a deeper role to accommodate the wealth of attacking riches at Old Trafford.
Boss Jose Mourinho has played Pogba out of position to accommodate his attacking players
Ex-United midfielder Ince would not be surprised if Pogba left for pastures new this summer
Pogba is unhappy with the position in which he is currently being played and has demanded that his role in the side is changed.
And Ince, a former midfielder himself, would not be surprised if he calls time on his stay at United this summer.
‘He likes to roam, he likes to attack,’ Ince said. ‘He wasn’t signed to be a holding midfield player and that’s clearly not what he enjoys or is best at. So why does he insist on playing him there?’
‘The signals that are coming from Pogba is that he’s not happy and if he doesn’t feel like he fits in, then I could see him leaving in the summer,’ the former England international added.
