Football’s biggest bust-ups: How Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba went from allies to enemies at Man Utd

Pogba has long been something of an enigma, but upon his arrival at United, he was seen as one of the best midfielders in the world, if not the very best. A swaggering presence at Juve, he was immediately installed as United’s chief orchestrator, dovetailing with Juan Mata in a midfield that often looked better on paper than in actuality.

Indeed, United finished sixth in the Premier League in 2016-17, though Pogba was instrumental as the Red Devils won both the Europa League and the League Cup, scoring in the final of the former against Ajax.

Mourinho had seemingly unlocked Pogba, who lauded his manager for “defending him” against critics in the press and claimed that he thoroughly deserved his “Special One” nickname.

In Pogba’s second season back – one in which United finished second in the league but failed to win a trophy – he picked up the first of what would become a series of niggling injuries.

Having played in their first four league games, and been involved in four goals, Pogba tore his thigh muscle. He missed seven games, and Mourinho was unhappy that the midfielder decided to jet to Miami to recover instead of staying in Manchester. Pogba revealed afterwards that upon seeing a photograph of Pogba in the United States, he sent it to his agent, Mino Raiola, questioning his decision.

Just four games after returning, Pogba was sent off against Arsenal, and was then twice substituted in three games, as United lost to Newcastle and Tottenham. He was also benched against Huddersfield Town.

Mourinho appeared to favour the more reserved, and less controversial Scott McTominay, and again benched Pogba in the Champions League last 16 against Sevilla. He was, however, called upon after Ander Herrera was injured early in the first half, and the manager praised his professionalism.

United lost the 2018 FA Cup final, as Pogba missed a key chance to equalise against Chelsea. Nevertheless, he headed to the 2018 World Cup with France a runner-up in the Premier League, and he would once again show just why he was made the most expensive player in history during his time in Russia.

France won the tournament with a balletic Pogba jinking his way out of pressure, and lasering through balls to his attackers. A goal in the final against Croatia capped a remarkable turnaround in his form, and he headed back to United with a World Cup winner’s medal.

Mourinho, though, appeared to take a dig at the player’s ability to focus while at United. He claimed the tournament was Pogba’s “perfect habitat” because he was “completely isolated from the external world”. However, just four days into his own delayed pre-season, Pogba was made captain by Mourinho, a move that stemmed from an injury to Antonio Valencia.

He scored in the first game of the season, a win over Leicester, and claimed afterwards that he would always play well for managers who “trust” him. Mourinho batted away subsequent questions about the star’s future, insisting that there was “no issue”, while the club released a biting statement in which they said they were “incensed” by a report claiming Pogba wanted to move to Barcelona.

Pogba and Mourinho’s relationship hit a new low after a 1-1 draw with Wolves at Old Trafford in September 2018. United had already lost to both Brighton and Tottenham early in the campaign, and despite providing an assist against Wolves, Pogba questioned his manager’s tactics.

“We are at home and we should play much better against Wolves. When we are at home we should attack, attack, attack. That’s Old Trafford. We are here to attack,” he said.

In a bitter response, and despite publicly claiming there had been no argument between the pair, Mourinho told Pogba he would never captain the club again. Days later, Pogba was left out of the squad as United lost to Derby County on penalties in the League Cup. The midfielder uploaded a selfie to Instagram during the game, and Mourinho felt that Pogba was mocking United’s defeat with the post; the player claims he tried to upload the picture during the match but was unable to do so because of Old Trafford’s poor Wi-Fi.

Sky Sports cameras subsequently picked up a tense conversation between the pair at United’s training ground 24 hours later, as Mourinho seemingly confronted Pogba, but the midfielder appeared to plead his innocence.

United’s form continued to fluctuate, and heading into December, they went four games without a win, losing to Manchester City and drawing with Crystal Palace, Southampton, and Arsenal. After the Saints stalemate, reporting suggested that Pogba had been branded a “virus” by Mourinho in a dressing room speech in front of the entire squad.

A source told The Sun that Mourinho told Pogba he “kills the mentality of good, honest people” in a vicious tirade; Pogba is said to have defended himself by again questioning his manager’s tactics.

The draw left United in mid-table, and Mourinho flexed his power once again by benching Pogba against both Fulham and Liverpool. The latter proved to be Mourinho’s final game in charge, as United lost 3-1 and the axe fell.

Pogba outlasted his manager and went on to enjoy a superb run of form under new coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, providing 13 goals in the next 11 games.

Pogba has since claimed that his time with Mourinho at United left him severely depressed. Speaking in 2022, he told Le Figaro: “I’ve experienced depression many times in my career, but you don’t talk about it. Sometimes, you don’t know you’re depressed, you only want to isolate yourself, be alone, and these are signs that don’t deceive.

“Personally, it started when I was with Jose Mourinho in Manchester. You ask yourself questions, wonder if you’re at fault, because you have never lived moments like these in your life.”

Mourinho went on to flame out at Tottenham before managing Roma, and has seemingly never forgiven Pogba. He says that the 2018 World Cup win left him changed, and that Pogba was viewed as more important than the manager by the United hierarchy.

For his own part, Pogba eventually returned to Juventus four years after Mourinho’s departure, but it has proved to be a disaster, as injuries and a loss of form preceded a four-year ban for doping, which he is still serving.

Pogba may never play football again, and thus it is such a shame that his best years were lost under a manager with whom he never saw eye to eye.