Harry Diamond
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson has told wantaway Paul Pogba to ‘get his head down’ during pre-season, amid speculation regarding the midfielder’s future at the club.
Pogba is believed to have told Manchester United of his desire to leave the club this summer, with Real Madrid having been strongly linked with a move to take the 26-year-old to Spain.
Robson, known as ‘Captain Marvel’ during his 13-year spell at Old Trafford between 1981 and 1994, has told the Frenchman to ignore the speculation and concentrate on giving his all whilst he remains a United player.
“You’re a Manchester United player, you’re contracted to them so you have to give everything for the club, the team and the fans,” Robson told Sky Sports.
“There’s a lot of speculation in the media about Paul. He is a top player.
“Get your head down, do your pre-season as well as you can – which, from what I’ve seen in the training sessions, he has done – and if something happens and the club want it to happen, or nothing happens then you’ve got to get on with it.”
This summer has already seen the likes of Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann go on ‘strike’ as they bid to force moves away from their respective clubs, with Robson believing the influence of agents is having an impact on player’s desires to move on.
“I think players are influenced far too much by their agents – instead of making their own decisions.
“Sometimes maybe you want some advice on who to sign for and when to move, but at the end of the day, you’re your own person and you can show the path that you want to follow in your career. And I don’t think many players do that – they’re always taking advice from their agents.
“Agents want players to move on because they make money. If a player is loyal to a club and stays there, the agent doesn’t make as much money. I think that’s a big influence not just at Manchester United, but all over the game.
“I think players should sometimes take a good look at themselves in the mirror and make what they want to of their career.”
See also – ‘I’d have him out’ – Ireland legend McGrath urges Manchester United to sell Pogba