Even though Paul Pogba has called his time working with Jose Mourinho a “nightmare,” the former Manchester United manager still wants a “big hug” from Pogba to make up.
The Frenchman was Mourinho’s flagship signing in 2016 when he joined at Old Trafford for £89 million, but their relationship was turbulent and eventually frayed.
Mourinho benched the midfielder for his last game in charge, a 3-1 loss to Liverpool in December 2018, after doubts about his attitude led to him being stripped of the vice-captaincy and publically referred to him as a “” among the group.
Pogba now admits he wants to make amends with the manager and describes their relationship as “like boyfriend and girlfriend” in a candid interview with Mail Sport.
“We were always up and getting back together; it was like being in a relationship,” Sami Mokbel of Mail Sport was told by Pogba.
“Things got off to a good start; after talking to him, he even convinced me to return to Manchester,” she said.
It became a nightmare with us arguing for reasons I don’t understand. Simply put, I wasn’t involved in any kind of . Fights don’t start with me.
Like managers and players, we had our differences. However, I hold him in high regard.
“A huge embrace awaits me if I see him tomorrow!” However, we will need to have a face-to-face meeting to talk about it.
Posting a photo of himself with a knowing look on his face and the words “caption this,” Pogba publicly criticized Mourinho’s conservative tactics with the Red Devils. Following Mourinho’s dismissal, Pogba continued his criticism.
The feud between Pogba and Mourinho persisted even when Mourinho was in charge of Tottenham.
According to him, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer “wouldn’t go against the players,” while Mourinho may treat the players like they “don’t exist” (April 2021).
Since having his football ban reduced, Pogba has only given one interview to a UK newspaper, and it is to Mail Sport.
Pogba, who was 30 years old at the time, received a four-year suspension from football in February following a failed test in August of 2023—a sentence that might have ended his career.
An Italian anti-doping prosecutor’s office handed down his heavy punishment after he tested positive for testosterone following Juventus’ 2023–24 season opener against Udinese.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport lowered his ban to 18 months following an appeal, allowing him to play again in March 2025 and begin training again in January, as revealed exclusively by Mail Sport earlier this month.