Paul Pogba's future at Manchester United is highly uncertain at the moment. The French midfielder looks destined to leave the club in the summer on a free transfer, although he's opened the door for talks with their newly appointed boss.
Erik Ten Hag will take charge of United next season. The current Ajax man hasn't yet met Pogba, but recent reports suggest the two could speak before the transfer window opens.
Regardless of what the 29 year-old decides to do, Ten Hag must learn the lessons of his time in Manchester. Pogba has forever been described as a player with bags of potential who struggled for true consistency at Old Trafford.
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There are a number of reasons behind his apparent failure to meet his lofty expectations since his high-profile transfer from Juventus in 2016. He has to shoulder some of the blame, but the club are also equally responsible.
Pogba has operated under a number of different coaches since returning, and he's occupied several different roles in the team from a central midfielder to a forward on the left to a forward on the right to a no.10.
Remarkably, throughout his spell in Manchester, United have refrained from fielding the World Cup winner as part of a midfield trio, which was how he thrived in Serie A under Antonio Conte before moving back to England.
Pogba has a relatively unique profile. He isn't quite a forward, but he isn't quite a central midfielder either. He's very much in between - almost like a player in the mould of Kevin De Bruyne or Philippe Coutinho despite standing 6-foot-3 - and Conte seemed to appreciate that.
If Ten Hag does get the opportunity to make use of his qualities, he must explore the prospect of fielding Pogba in what seems to be his best role to the left of a midfield three, rather than using him in a two like his predecessors.
His performances for France have conflicted with his need to play as part of a three over the years, but N'Golo Kante tends to partner him for his national team and the Chelsea man is almost capable of covering the ground of an extra man.
Moreover, the make-up of international football is very different to that of club football.
Regardless of whether Pogba stays or not, Ten Hag must not make the same mistakes as his predecessors by signing players without presenting them with the circumstances they require in order to prosper on the field.
Some players are flexible and adaptable enough to perform to a high level anywhere on the pitch, and some coaches have refined their systems enough to get away with fielding their players in different areas, but Pogba has largely benefited from neither.
Ultimately, perhaps both parties will accept that a fresh start is best. Ten Hag will have a clean slate from which to work next season, and he'll be free to shape his team in a way which guards against his players encountering issues like Pogba.
Gary Neville recently described Old Trafford as a "graveyard for reputations" in recent years. It will be up to Ten Hag to ensure that changes under his leadership.
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