Ah, Paul Pogba. The name alone conjures a kaleidoscope of emotions for any football fan, but none more so than for those who bleed red for Manchester United. His story, particularly his two stints at Old Trafford, reads like a Shakespearean drama, a modern-day epic of a prodigal son who returned home, only for the reunion to be less a fairytale and more a complex, often frustrating, saga. It’s a tale filled with dazzling highs, confounding lows, and a lingering question mark that continues to hang heavy in the Manchester air: What exactly happened?
The First Departure: A Promising Talent Leaves Home
Let's rewind to the beginning, shall we? Back in 2009, a gangly, supremely talented teenager arrived at United's academy. Paul Labile Pogba was tipped for superstardom, a midfielder with the flair of a magician and the physique of a Gladiator. He was the real deal, no doubt about it. But in a move that sent shockwaves through the United faithful, he departed in 2012, lured by the promise of immediate first-team football at Juventus. Sir Alex Ferguson, never one to mince words, famously claimed Pogba had shown a "lack of respect."Fast forward four years, and that raw talent had blossomed into a world-beater in Turin. He was pulling strings, scoring screamers, and winning Scudettos with a swagger that was unmistakably his. The whispers started, then grew into a roar: Could he come back? Should he come back?
The Record-Breaking Return: High Hopes and Grand Unveilings
The summer of 2016 answered that with a resounding, record-breaking "YES." £89 million. A mind-boggling sum at the time, but for United, it wasn't just about a player; it was about a statement. Jose Mourinho, the new sheriff in town, wanted his marquee signing, a symbol of United's renewed ambition to reclaim their perch atop English football. Pogba's unveiling, complete with a grime music video and a swagger that said "I'm back, and I mean business," set the tone. The hype was stratospheric. Fans dreamed of a dominant midfield general, the missing piece of the puzzle, the catalyst for a new era of glory.
Flashes of Brilliance: The Untouchable Pogba
And for brief, tantalizing moments, he was exactly that. His first season saw United lift the League Cup and, crucially, the Europa League – Pogba even bagged a deflected goal in the final. There were flashes of genius: sublime passes, powerful drives, that effortless glide across the pitch. When he was "on," he was utterly unplayable, a force of nature. He could unlock defences with a single pass, create space out of thin air, and spray the ball around like a quarterback. These were the moments that reminded everyone why United broke the bank for him, why he was considered one of the best midfielders in the world. He had the "it" factor, the kind of player who could make you gasp in admiration.
The Downside: Inconsistency, Injuries, and Controversy
But then, the other side of the coin. The consistency, that elusive beast, was often nowhere to be found. Injuries began to plague him, turning promising starts into lengthy spells on the sidelines. His relationship with Mourinho, initially a love-in, turned sour, leading to frosty press conferences and public spats. Pogba's perceived lack of defensive discipline, his flamboyant off-field persona (the haircuts, the social media antics) – all became lightning rods for criticism. Was he truly committed? Was he putting in the work? Or was he simply a superstar who didn't quite fit the rigid demands of a Premier League powerhouse? The narrative quickly shifted from "prodigal son returns" to "problem child."
The Solskjaer Renaissance (and Reversion)
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, there were flickers of a renaissance. Freed from Mourinho's tactical shackles, Pogba seemed to enjoy his football more. He produced some incredible performances, particularly during Solskjaer's honeymoon period. We saw the assists tally soar, the goals flow, and genuine smiles on his face. It felt like, just maybe, he was finally finding his groove, fulfilling that immense potential. But just as quickly, the old patterns resurfaced: another injury, another dip in form, another moment where you just wished he could stamp his authority on games more consistently. It was a constant rollercoaster, a game of "will he or won't he" deliver, leaving fans constantly on the edge of their seats – not always for the right reasons.
The "Pogba Problem": A Lingering Enigma
The "Pogba problem" became a recurring theme, a never-ending debate. Was it the club's fault for not building a team around him? Was it the succession of managers who couldn't quite figure out how to best deploy his unique skillset? Or was it simply Pogba himself, unable or unwilling to adapt his game to the rigours and responsibilities required of a central midfielder in a top English team? Perhaps the truth, as it often does, lies somewhere in the messy middle. He certainly wasn't helped by the club's own instability, cycling through managers and lacking a clear footballing identity for much of his second spell.
The Second Departure: An Unfulfilled Legacy
His second departure in 2022 felt less like a dramatic exit and more like a quiet whimper. No record-breaking fanfare, no grand statements, just a free transfer back to Juventus. It was an anti-climax, leaving an indelible mark of unfulfilled potential on his United legacy. The "what ifs" piled up: What if he hadn't left the first time? What if he'd stayed fit? What if he'd had a consistent manager who truly understood how to harness his unparalleled talent?Ultimately, Paul Pogba's second chapter at Manchester United wasn't a total bust. He won trophies, provided moments of breathtaking brilliance, and undeniably elevated the team's profile. But he never quite became the dominant, transformative figure everyone hoped he would be. He remained an enigma, a Rolls-Royce of a player who too often felt like he was running on three cylinders. His return was supposed to be the ultimate homecoming, the prodigal son finally settling in and leading his boyhood club to glory. Instead, it serves as a fascinating, often frustrating, case study in modern football – a reminder that sometimes, even with all the talent and all the money in the world, the story doesn't always have a fairytale ending. And for Manchester United fans, that's a pill that still tastes a bit bitter.
