When Ralf Rangnick intimated that Paul Pogba could effectively use his final months at Manchester United to put him in the shop window, it was met with angst.
The idea of United being little more than a vessel for the club’s most expensive player in their history to find a new team was difficult to take.
But that was the approach the interim boss took ahead of his return from injury last month.
Rangnick was even asked whether there was a point in playing Pogba at all, considering he will be out of contract by the time this season ends.
“Yes, of course,” he swiftly replied. “By the way, my contract as a manager is also expiring in the summer. For us we have the same goal. We have the same ambition to be as successful as we can possibly be in the next three or four months.
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“As long as this is the case, why shouldn't Paul Pogba [play] now after two and half months of injury, fully fit again now?
“And he also wants to show up, he wants to show the fans of Manchester United, the board, the whole world what kind of player he can be.
“And even if it's only to show enough for a new contract elsewhere, he will be highly motivated to do that and why should I then not play him?”
Pogba has always endured a difficult relationship with the Old Trafford support - with his constant eye-fluttering towards every major team doing little for fan-player relations.
And the difficulties over contract negotiations - United have tried and failed to agree to terms on a new deal - have further dented his standing amongst the fanbase.
But if there were any question marks over his remaining determination to succeed with the Red Devils, they have been swept away in the weeks since returning to full fitness.
In the last month, there has arguably been no better Manchester United player and although results haven’t always been brilliant, Pogba often has.
Against Burnley, for 45 minutes at least, the Frenchman exuded the kind of confidence and swagger that led United to splash out almost £100million in bringing him back to the club in 2016.
He capped that performance with a wonderful slotted finish, his first goal of the season at a crucial juncture.
And then against Brighton, with United desperate for a positive result, Pogba came off the bench to ensure the curse of throwing away one-goal leads was broken.
Rangnick called upon the 28-year-old with Brighton down to 10 men and the hosts needing to dominate possession.
"I think also Fred in the second-half did well but obviously with one player down it was also important to keep control and possession of the ball," Rangnick explained. "And that's why I decided to bring on Paul.
"Since he was out with a long-term injury, it was good to rest him in the first-half and to have him available for the last 20 minutes of today's game."
A fresh and fit Pogba then chipped in with his eighth assist of the season, a tally only bettered by Liverpool duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.
The victory put United into the top four and should they achieve a place in next season’s Champions League, soon-to-be-free-agent Paul Pogba will likely play a huge role.
Putting Pogba in the shop window could yet earn United the best possible parting present.
