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Paul Pogba has claimed his relationship with former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was a “nightmare” but he wants to give him a “big hug” to make up for it.
The Frenchman arrived at Outdated Trafford for £89million as Mourinho's star signing in 2016, but their relationship was tumultuous and frayed.
Questioned about the midfielder's attitude, Mourinho stripped him of the vice-captaincy, called him a “virus” in front of the team and left him on the bench for his last game in charge, a 3-1 defeat against Liverpool in December. 2018.
Now, in an exclusive interview with Mail Sport, Pogba says they were “like boyfriends” and admitted that he wants to reconcile with the coach.
“Our relationship was like boyfriend and girlfriend, we were breaking up and making up all the time,” Pogba told Mail Sport's Sami Mokbel.
Paul Pogba has told Mail Sport that his relationship with José Mourinho at Manchester United was like “boyfriend and girlfriend” and that he wants to “hug” his former coach after the “nightmare”
The Frenchman had arrived at Outdated Trafford as Mourinho's big £89million 2016 summer purchase.
However, their relationship broke down when he questioned Mourinho's tactics and the Portuguese coach called him a 'virus' in front of the team.
“Everything started great, he was one of the reasons I returned to Manchester because I spoke to him and he convinced me to come back.
'I don't know why it became a nightmare and we fought. Because I wasn't fighting. I didn't start the fight.
“We didn't agree, as coaches and players sometimes do. But there is a lot of respect on my part for him.
'If I see him tomorrow it's a big hug! But someday we will have to sit down together and discuss it.”
Pogba had publicly criticized Mourinho's conservative tactics with the Red Devils and after the Portuguese was sacked, he posted a photo of a knowing expression on his face, writing “caption of this”.
Even when Mourinho was managing Tottenham, Pogba still took shots at his former manager.
In April 2021 he suggested that Mourinho could treat players as if they “don't exist”, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in his opinion, “wouldn't go against the players”.
Pogba's interview with Mail Sport is his first and only interview with a UK newspaper since his football ban was reduced.
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Pogba's Mail Sport interview is his first with a UK outlet after his football ban was reduced
Despite their feud and war of words, he insists there is a lot of “respect” between the couple.
Pogba is about to leave Juventus and will be able to play freely again from March 2025
In February, Pogba, then 30, received a four-year ban from football after failing a drug test in August 2023, potentially ending his career.
He tested positive for testosterone after Juventus' first game of the 2023-24 season against Udinese, and was handed a harsh punishment by an Italian anti-doping prosecutor.
However, as Mail Sport exclusively revealed earlier this month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his suspension to 18 months following an appeal, meaning he will be able to play again in March 2025, and will be allowed to train starting in January.
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