Alex Ferguson’s former coach Rene Meulensteen and former United striker Jermaine Beckford have told Paul Pogba to leave Old Trafford after Manchester United’s defeat to Everton.
Pogba was one of several United players to underwhelm at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon as Everton boosted their survival hopes with a shock 1-0 win.
Anthony Gordon’s first-half deflected strike was enough to separate the teams and damage United’s chances of finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Pogba has endured another poor campaign at Old Trafford and both Meulensteen and Beckford believe he should leave United when his contract expires at the end of the season, saying the Frenchman ‘is not suited to the Premier League’.
The World Cup winner thrived at Juventus after leaving United in 2012 and has been a reliable performer for France over the last few years despite blowing hot and cold for the Red Devils.
‘Players like Paul Pogba have come in to Manchester United for humongous money,’ Beckford told Stadium Astro.
‘I’m one of his biggest fans because technically he’s one of the best in the world. I just don’t think he’s suited to Premier League football where the pace of the game is very quick and intense.
‘A lot of money has been spent at United but in the wrong areas and on the wrong players, and that’s something they need to look at going forward.
‘I think Pogba will leave [in the summer] and that will be the right decision because we’ve seen how good he is at Juventus and with France – that’s the player I want to see but I don’t think we will see that at United. I think he’ll leave for those reasons.’
Asked if Pogba’s Old Trafford career had been a failure, Meulensteen added: ‘Failure is a big word but has Pogba lived up to the expectations? I don’t think so.
‘He knew what the expectations were when he came back, to compete for the Premier League and the Champions League. ‘Not everything has clicked with the players around him or the system, does he actually suit the Premier League?
‘What frustrated me a little bit is Paul has never really outspoken his commitment to United. He’s never came out there and said he’s going to stay and bring United back to where they belong.
‘There’s always been issues over his future and that doesn’t sit well with the fans. It’s not just one player though, there’s many more issues that need to be addressed before United are going to get back on the right track.
‘Since he’s come back it hasn’t really happened for him or Manchester United. I think he will leave now.’
Asked if United can still secure a top-four finish this campaign, interim manager Ralf Rangnick said: ‘It’s difficult – if we don’t win our own games it doesn’t make sense to hope for good results from the other teams.’
