Sir Alex Ferguson's X-rated Mino Raiola verdict amid Paul Pogba contract update

Paul Pogba's Manchester United future is back in focus amid claims the club has now accepted he will not agree terms on a new contract.

The France international, who returned to Old Trafford in 2016, is set to become a free agent at the end of the season when his current deal expires.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made it clear he would like the midfielder to stay, after triggering a 12-month extension during the 2020/21 campaign.

However, according to ESPN, United bosses have now come to terms with the fact he is unlikely to sign a new deal and are resigned to the fact he will leave for nothing at the start of next summer's transfer window.

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Paul Pogba will be a free agent at the end of the season ( Image:

Manchester United via Getty Imag)

Signed for £89million, Pogba has rarely been out of the headlines since his move from Juventus, often dividing pundits and supporters alike.

Speculation regarding his future was sent into overdrive almost 12 months ago when outspoken agent Mino Raiola went public with his client's desire to leave.

"There's no point beating about the bush. It's better to speak out clearly, look forward and avoid wasting time to find culprits," he told Tuttosport last year.

"Paul is unhappy at Man Utd, he can't manage to express himself like he wants to and like people expect him to.

"He needs to change team, he needs a change of scenery. He has a contract that will expire in a year and a half, in the summer of 2022, but the best solution for all parties is a transfer in the next (summer) window."

Since that public declaration, there have been regular updates from the Italian, constantly keeping Pogba's situation front and centre in the footballing zeitgeist.

Mino Raiola has been outspoken about Pogba's Manchester United future ( Image:

Corbis via Getty Images)

Just last month, Raiola hinted that the 28-year-old would be open to returning to Juventus, despite all the sounds coming from Manchester hinting at a new contract.

"Paul Pogba is out of contract in June, so we'll talk with Manchester and we'll see what happens," Raiola told Rai Sport. "Turin is still in his heart. There's a chance that Pogba will return to Juventus, but it also depends on Juventus."

Solskjaer has tended to keep his true feelings on Raiola private, other than a barb shortly after his first outburst.

"The squad is fine, they're a team, they stick together. As soon as Paul's agent realises this is a team sport and we work together the better and that's maybe the last thing I'll say on that."

Sir Alex Ferguson hit out at Raiola during a talk in 2017 ( Image:

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The Norwegian's mentor Sir Alex Ferguson has been less reserved about Pogba's representative, thanks to their dealings towards the end of his first spell at the club.

As seems likely this time around, Pogba left under a cloud back in 2012.

Asked about the player's departure, Ferguson said in 2017: "Paul Pogba? He just had a bad agent, a s***bag".

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Speaking about Raiola in his 2015 autobiography, the fiery Scot explained their relationship further: "There are one or two football agents I simply do not like, and Mino Raiola is one of them.

"I distrusted him from the moment I met him. He became Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent while he was playing for Ajax, and eventually he would end up representing Pogba, who was only 18 years old at the time.

"He and I were like oil and water. From then on, our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to ingratiate himself with Paul and his family and the player signed with Juventus."