Man Utd: Paul Pogba ‘agreed Man City move’ before pulling out due to ‘fear of Old Trafford backlash’

Paul Pogba turned down an agreed move to Manchester City this summer out of fear of the backlash he would receive from Manchester United fans, according to reports.

The France midfielder is set to leave Old Trafford upon the expiry of his contract in July, having failed to reach an agreement with club officials over an extension.

A number of top European clubs have been linked with a move for him in recent months, including United’s neighbours City.

Paul Pogba turned down an agreed move to Man City this summer out of fear of a backlash

According to The Times, Pogba agreed personal terms with City for a potential free transfer this summer, before pulling out of the move due to concerns about the backlash he would receive from United supporters.

He is said to have felt that his life in Manchester would become ‘unbearable’ because of the negative reaction it would provoke from the red half of the city.

Carlos Tevez was the last high-profile player to make the move across Manchester, swapping United for City in 2009 and becoming an instant villain at Old Trafford in the process.

Pogba does not want to spark a similar controversy, however, meaning he decided to U-turn on his agreed switch to the Etihad and inform Pep Guardiola and Co that he will instead be moving abroad.

Pogba is set to leave Manchester United upon the expiry of his contract this summer

Pep Guardiola and City were prepared to bring the Frenchman across Manchester on a free

But Pogba is said to have turned down the move over fears of the backlash from United fans

City were reportedly prepared to meet the 29-year-old’s wage demands and give him the chance to compete for a first-team place under Guardiola.

Yet, after rejecting their offer Pogba now looks set to either rejoin Juventus or head to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

His representatives held talks with former club Juve this week, where he spent four successful years before securing a world-record £89million return to United in 2016.

PSG are also understood to be eyeing a free move for Pogba, despite the fact he has generally flattered to deceive in his second spell at Old Trafford.

The World Cup winner will miss United’s final outing of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday due to a calf injury that has kept him out of action for the past month.

He will therefore depart the club with an overall tally of 39 goals and 51 assists in 233 appearances. 

The last high-profile player to complete a move across Manchester was Carlos Tevez in 2009