The statement ran to 840 words, which was not the number of midfielders Manchester United scouted before re-signing Paul Pogba in 2016.
As dignified as United's eulogy was, a more memorable epitaph is Pogba's last appearance at Old Trafford. He was booed and repeatedly urged to "F--k off". At full-time, the chants restarted, Pogba cupped his ear to the Stretford Enders and disappeared down the tunnel.
That was the only standalone chant Pogba earned in his six years back at United. He will have embellished the social media impressions and appeared popular on the sentiment graphs but Pogba never truly bonded with the matchgoers, always the most reliable gauge of a player's bond.
