Manchester United are hopeful that Paul Pogba will be persuaded to stay at the club following the statement signing of Cristiano Ronaldo.
United confirmed the signing of Ronaldo from Juventus on deadline day, securing the return of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner on a two-year contract.
Ronaldo returns to the Red Devils and Premier League over a decade after his world-record departure to Real Madrid, with the forward having become the Spanish side’s all-time record goalscorer before a prolific period in Italy.
The signing of the 36-year-old caps a remarkable summer in the transfer market that has also included the arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that the club are hopeful their business can persuade Pogba to stay.
The France international is out of contract and available on a free transfer next summer, having been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the transfer window.
Foreign sides will be able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with the 28-year-old from January, though the Red Devils’ hierarchy are hopeful their show of intent can convince Pogba to commit his future to the club.
United have failed to win a trophy since the 2016/17 season – Pogba’s first since returning to the club from Juventus – and the midfielder is keen to take a patient approach to his future as he weighs up what could potentially be the last major contract of his career.
