Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is currently a free agent after serving his 18-month ban from football over failed drugs tests while playing for Juventus
04:00, 01 Apr 2025
Paul Pogba
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is currently a free agent(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Emmanuel Petit has told Paul Pogba to forget about considering a move back to Manchester United.
Pogba is available again as a free agent, having completed his 18-month ban for doping offences. The World Cup winner has appointed a new agent, Arturo Canales, to help him find a new club.
United have been linked with signing Pogba for what would be a third time. But fellow Frenchman and former Arsenal star Petit reckons the environment at Old Trafford is not right for Pogba to go back to Manchester.
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Petit, who won the World Cup himself back in 1998, told PokerFirma : "I would say no to United. He needs a good environment, and he's been at the club twice already, he's been under criticism, with the press, former players, also the fans.
"I think Manchester United at the moment is not the best destination." Despite Pogba being out of football for so long, Petit reckons the 32-year-old is worth a gamble, because he is motivated by gaining revenge on the game which turned its back on him.
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Petit added: "The last time he played a game was 16 months ago. He's training by himself, doesn't have the chance to play, or even to train with teammates. I'm still pretty sure that he's got a great heart, great abilities.
"But how long will it take to come back to a good level, with revenge as a factor in terms of motivation? I don’t know. I think he's got this desire to come back into the game and to show that he's not finished. If I was the manager of a top club, I would gamble with him."