Paul Pogba recently transferred from Juventus to Manchester United for a world record £89.5m which translates to around $117m. Why Pogba? Why so much money? Why Manchester United?  

Paul Pogba is a French midfielder born in Paris to Guinean immigrants. Pogba started playing soccer at the age of six. He spent seven seasons at US Roissy-en-Brie he then joined US Torcy he spent one season there before moving to Le Havre where Pogba stayed until 2009 when Manchester United bought the young teenager, much to the shock of Le Havre who had a non-solicitation agreement agreed to by not only Pogba but his parents in 2006 which ran until the end of the 2009-2010 season. Le Havre sued on the grounds that Pogba still was under contract to them. The judge ruled in favor of Manchester United stating Pogba was in no way contractually linked to Le Havre.

Now you might be saying Cory, didn’t Pogba just join Manchester United last week what do you mean he was there in 2009? Well Pogba played for Manchester United before he came back. He wasn’t utilized by then manager Sir Alex Ferguson correctly. Pogba played for the youth team until 2011 when he made his senior debut for United vs. Crawley Town. Pogba then went on to play for United two more times before he decided his talents weren’t being utilized effectively and he left to Juventus on a free transfer.

At Juve is where Pogba realized his potential. Pogba was used in his preferred box to box role. He was able to take games by the scruff of the neck and dictate the tempo of the game. He was also able to showcase his skills as a dribbler and a goal scorer scoring 28 goals in 124 appearances for Juve. He contributed greatly to Juve’s four straight Serie A titles, their two straight Coppa Italia’s and a Champion’s League runner up spot in 2015 where they lost to the treble winning Barcelona side.

Pogba developed not only into mainstay of the best team in Italy but one of the best national teams in the world, France. Pogba is the best midfielder France has at only the tender age of 22. He was one of the main players for France in their Euro 2016 campaign alongside Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann. Pogba had been long rumored with an exit from Juve linked with moves to Barcelona, Real Madrid and a return to Manchester United. In August 2016 Pogba finally moved away from Juve.

August 9 is the date the world record transfer fee was broken. Previously held by Gareth Bale’s 2013 transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for £85m ($105m). Paul Pogba’s transfer back to Manchester United shattered the world transfer fee record paying £89.5m ($117m) to bring the French midfielder back to them. Pogba ought to turn Manchester United into title contenders but at what cost? Pogba left United in 2011 on a free transfer, then five years later United paid £89.5m to bring him back. We don’t know if Pogba is worth the money they spent on him because he hasn’t played yet. But if he can replicate his form he had at Juventus he’ll be worth it.

Personally, I don’t think Pogba was worth the money spent. He’s a great midfielder but as former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville said “If I’m spending that type of money on a player I want them scoring 50 goals a season. I would only spend that money on Messi or Ronaldo.” I’m in agreement with Gary Neville. That money would be way better spent on one of the world’s best attackers the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Bale, Suarez, Neymar, Griezmann, etc., etc. But truthfully who knows Pogba might shine brighter than he ever has before the second time around at United. But one thing’s for sure, if he doesn’t it’ll be the soccer world’s most costliest mistake.