The inevitable departure of Paul Pogba from Manchester United has been a prolonged and painful affair. The Frenchman rejoined the club in 2016 for €105 million, but has struggled to consistently make his mark at Old Trafford.
Fans of United have grown tired of the midfielder's constant flirtations with other clubs, and their patience appears to have finally run out.
Pogba's relationship with United fans appears to be in tatters as he was booed off the pitch after United's nervy win over Norwich on Saturday.
Paul Pogba: Frenchman booed by home fans at Old Trafford
Paul Pogba had one of his best seasons at Manchester United last year. But, in a fashion that is unfortunately reflective of his six years at the club, his performances have tanked this year, and he looks destined to leave on a free transfer this summer.
Pogba was poor once again as United struggled to a 3-2 win over 20th placed Norwich. Reports from inside the ground suggested that chants of "fuck off Pogba" rang around Old Trafford after the final whistle.
As Pogba went down the tunnel at the end of the game, he cupped his ears to the Stretford End, in an apparent response to the chants. He was met with a chorus of boos by the crowd.
Pogba walking off the pitch! pic.twitter.com/BXu51MuGjo
— Nav (@NavMUFC) April 16, 2022
It has been a long time since a Manchester United player was singled out for booing by the crowd at Old Trafford. Marouane Fellaini suffered that fate multiple times during his time at the club but for a player of Pogba's stature to be booed is an indicator of just how poor his relationship with the fans currently is.
Nonetheless, the reception the World Cup-winning midfielder received divided United fans, with some such as writer Scott Patterson recognising it marked a sad end to Pogba's time with United.
Surprised to see the fans turn on Pogba like that tbh. Not often you have home crowds singing for players to fuck off. Can’t remember the last time that happened even. Would rather he just didn’t play now until the end of the season. Save him and us from the drama of it.
— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) April 16, 2022
The reception for Pogba came on a day when a major section of Manchester United fans launched renewed protests against the owners, the Glazers. The American ownership has drawn ire from huge sections of the fanbase in recent years, and they were once again under fire on Saturday afternoon, as the new fan group The 58 organised a march to the ground ahead of kick-off.
Manchester United supporters #protest against the Glazers. Fans march to Old Trafford to boycott the first 17 minutes of the game which signifies a minute for each year the Glazers have owned the club. #GlazersOut #Manchester, UK April 16, 2022 @The__1958 @ManUtdMEN pic.twitter.com/gVSBNAsbmO
— Andy Barton (@Andybartonphoto) April 16, 2022
Perhaps the tensions of the day from the protests fuelled the venom against Pogba. He was admittedly poor on a day when United laboured to a win over bottom club Norwich. They needed a Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick to drag them to a late 3-2 win, which keeps their top four hopes alive.
Pogba has shown flashes of brilliance during his six years at the club since returning to United from Juventus in the summer of 2016. He scored in the 2017 Europa League final - the last trophy United won - and was influential in last year's run to second, as well as contending for the team of the season in 2018-19.
But he now seems destined for a move, whether that be a return to Juventus, a move to PSG, or elsewhere. It certainly appears unlikely he will be at Manchester United past this summer, and it seems as though Pogba and the club's fans alike won't be distraught with that.
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