‘Did they fail each other?’ – Paul Pogba’s agent lashes out at Man Utd.. but admits ‘joint responsibility’ for flop

PAUL POGBA’s agent has hit out at Manchester United and admitted the reunion may not have been the best choice for either party.

The 29-year-old returned to Serie A giants Juventus on a free transfer this summer after a failed six-year second stint at Old Trafford.

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And the midfield star’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, reckons the “transitional” phase following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement stopped Pogba from thriving.

She told The Telegraph: “Did Paul fail Manchester United or did Manchester United fail Paul? Or did they fail each other? These are good questions.

“When Paul went there he won the Europa League [in 2017]. Paul was playing all the time for Manchester United when he was not injured.

“He did not choose to be injured. But he played when he was not injured.

“Now I think Manchester United is going through a transitional phase.

“And this transition phase, because there was such an important presence in the club before, that was built around him, when you miss that figure then a club needs time to restructure itself.

“So Manchester United is going through a restructuring phase and I think Paul was part of that phase.

“They are still going through it and they will make it, I have no doubt but Paul was in the middle of it.

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“I think when things don’t happen it’s best to take joint responsibility when there is joint responsibility. You have to acknowledge it.

“But I don’t think Paul is to blame for things not going as we would have liked them to have gone.”

There was no desire from either Pogba or United to renew his contract once it expired last summer.

The World Cup winner returned to United from Juve for a club-record £89million in 2016, before heading back to Turin for nothing after last season.

And while Pimenta is open in admitting things did not exactly go to plan, she believes Pogba’s move “back home” to Manchester was the “right choice” at the time.

She added: “Paul made a choice of the heart, at the time. He really wanted to go back to United.

“The happiness he felt going back was like home. So I am sure it was the right choice.

“Now were there expectations for more trophies and more achievements? Yes, there was. But they didn’t come.”

He signed for the Serie A club in a deal which will see him contracted until 2026.

But Pogba’s return to Juve has been ruined after a knee injury sidelined the star.

And it could see him fail to make Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the Qatar World Cup this summer.

Meanwhile, Man Utd have begun to turn things around somewhat under new boss Erik ten Hag.

The fifth-placed Prem team have beaten Liverpool and Arsenal already this season.

But they were thumped 6-3 by rivals City and have been charged by the FA for failing to control their players in the goalless draw with Newcastle on Sunday.