Paul Pogba sitting courtside at an NBA game
Paul Pogba has spent the last week holidaying in Florida and attending NBA games
Paul Pogba is the latest Manchester United player, past or present, to attend an NBA game this month after sitting courtside to watch friend Jimmy Butler play for the Miami Heat twice in the last week.
Pogba, 31, has made multiple trips to the United States, namely Florida, this autumn after also going to two Inter Miami matches. Both visits were before the player and Juventus agreed to terminate his contract with the Italian club.
Barely a week later, Pogba was back in Florida and participating in a shootaround on the court at Kaseya Center with Butler before the Heat's game against the Dallas Mavericks. He then sat courtside for that Miami win and was back again a week later on Friday night as they beat the Toronto Raptors.
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Butler shared a photo on Instagram of them hugging before the game, with Pogba wearing a replica of the Heat's bright red City Edition jersey with his friend's name and number 22 on the back. Earlier this month, former United teammate Marcus Rashford received criticism for doing likewise during the November international break after not being called up to the England squad.
He sat courtside at a New York Knicks game against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden and embraced Knick guard Jalen Brunson after the game, who gave the United forward his game jersey and signed it in front of him. After not making it into the Brazil squad, Casemiro also went to a game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers while on a family trip to The Walt Disney World Resort.
If Pogba's rumoured return to United materialises, the three would have something in common. Now a free agent after leaving Juventus, the former France international is available to sign for anyone immediately but can begin training again until January or play in a match before March.