Paul Pogba wanted to return to Juventus as early as 2018, according to one of his former team-mates.
The France international left Manchester United in the summer to return to the Serie A side giants and made his first appearance for his new club last week following an injury hit campaign. It brought to an end a difficult period at Old Trafford during the closing stages of his second United stint and his former Juventus team-mate Medhi Benatia was not surprised to see Pogba back in Italy, saying the midfielder told him as much five years go.
United and Juventus were drawn against each other during the 2018/19 Champions League and Benatia said Pogba told him he was keen on a return to the Old Lady after that game, which Jose Mourinho's side lost 1-0 at Old Trafford. The 56-cap Morocco international was an unused substitute that night, and the reverse fixture in northern Italy, which United won 2-1.
READ MORE: We simulated Liverpool vs United to get a Premier League score prediction
Speaking to Italian daily sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport [via Football Italia] ahead of Mourinho's Roma hosting Juventus this weekend, Benatia expressed sympathy for the player's predicament so far this season.
“I am sorry for him; he’s gone through a difficult year but I am not surprised to see him at Juventus," he said. "When we [Juventus] faced him in Manchester, he told me that he loved Juventus and that he wanted to return.”
Benatia and Pogba's Juventus careers overlapped by just a few weeks before Pogba joined United in 2016, the same summer as Benatia arrived. Pogba only made his second debut for the Italian giants in midweek after tearing his meniscus during the club's pre-season tour in the United States of America.
READ NEXT:
- All the latest United news, views and gossip
- Erik ten Hag has surprise defensive dilemma to solve in United vs Liverpool
- 'Fergie can hear you!' - the nickname that made Sir Alex Ferguson snub a Liverpool star for 20 years
- 'I'm gonna kill him' - what happened in the infamous United vs Liverpool tunnel brawl including a 'sly dig on the cheek'
- ‘I sleep well’ - Ten Hag explains Ronaldo decision for United vs Liverpool
