Ferguson unhappy with 'difficult' Pogba agent
PA Photos
Paul Pogba is rated extremely highly at Old Trafford
Sir Alex Ferguson has urged in-demand youngster Paul Pogba to stay at Manchester United and has vowed to give the midfielder a first-team chance over the busy Christmas period.
Pogba is attracting interest from a host of top clubs, including Manchester City, Juventus and AC Milan, and is stalling over a new contract at Old Trafford, with Ferguson admitting dealings with the player's agent have been troublesome.
Frenchman Pogba, 18, only arrived at United from Le Havre in 2009 and Ferguson warned: "You don't need to chase money at a club like Manchester United, it will eventually find you."
The United boss added: "He's got an agent who's obviously become a bit difficult but we're negotiating with this agent and we want the boy to stay. But it's down to the individual also.
"Matt Busby summed it up perfectly, that you don't need to chase money at a club like Manchester United, it will eventually find you. If you're good enough, you will earn money and become rich playing for us, there's no doubt about it.
"You hope he gets the right advice. All the young players who remain here always do well. It's one of these situations that they can chase the money early in their career but at the end it's not the same as if they'd stayed here.
"It's the decision the player has to take himself, no matter who he is, about where they think their best future will be. He just needs to look round about him to realise that. But if he wants to go, there is nothing we can do about it."
Contrary to previous reports, which suggested Pogba's contract expires in the summer, Ferguson revealed United have a 12-month option on the present deal.
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why cant footballers just play for gods sake! plaers like rooney, tevez and torres were at their peak in their young footie days, now when money got into the picture, they just dont add up like they used to be.
rooney- violent
tevez- dis-respectful and has lack of sportsmanship
torres- does not take his chances i matches to the full sometimes
Think the nationality rules have been changed. Can't remember the exact period but if a player has been resident and played at a first class level for the appropriate number of years he can qualify for the country of residence's national team. However why Pogba should want to when he'd have far more chance of winning a medal playing for France, I couldn't imagine.
As far as limiting the number of foreign players in an English league team it won't happen because.
- Providing the player is a European resident he has the right to market his labour in any other European country
- It would probably condemn all the British clubs to second tier football. The majority of all their squads are imports. If they had to switch the balance from the present 8 [I think] home nations players to 20, they'd be recruiting dross. If there were that many decent Brits about they'd be signed up already. At the moment there are about 120 in the premiership. If the number of foreigners was limited to five out of the 25 the premiership would have to sign up another 280, and they aren't available.
Still I agree that agents should not be allowed to market their players until the final year of their contract and if they are found doing so they should be banned, and sued for enticement to breach of contract.
