Jose Maurinho wants Paul Pogba to forget his world record price and play freely for Man-U

Jose Mourinho wants Paul Pogba to forget his world-record price tag and show Manchester United his true quality.

A summer of discussion bore fruit five weeks ago when the open secret of the 23-year-old's Old Trafford return from Juventus was made official.

United paid an eye-watering €105 million euros (£89 million) to bring back a player who left them four years earlier in search of first-team football, with a further €5m (£4.25m) due if certain targets are met.


It is a remarkable, record-breaking fee that sees Pogba stand alone as the world's most expensive player ever -- a price tag that appeared to weigh heavily in United's disappointing back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Feyenoord.
    Mourinho had expected the Frenchman's tail-off after his bright start to life at United, and now wants him to block out the background noise that comes with his status.

"The world-record player is always a question that will be open until somebody breaks the record,'' Mourinho said. "I think there are clubs that paid 20, 30, 40 (million pounds), which is a bigger deal than what Man United paid for Paul because you make a relation between what you pay and the club revenue.

"You realise that other clubs paying 20, 30, 40 is a much bigger thing than what Man United did, and I just want Paul to forget that and to play his football.

"Euro final, no preseason, holidays, come back -- it's normal that in the first week he had the very good impact in the first game.

"It's normal that after the first game he has a little decrease, but I am full of trust with him because I know the player he is.

"I know that he is a very good guy with a lot of ambition, so the form will come naturally and will come with the team. The team improves, Paul improves. No problem.''

Pogba's form tallies with United's own drop-off after their winning start to life under Mourinho came to a shuddering halt.