Man United legend reveals how Real Madrid missed out on World Cup-winning midfielder in 2016 | OneFootball

France has produced several talented midfielders over the years and Real Madrid have been blessed to enjoy the services of a handful of them.

Even in today’s team, the core of Los Blancos’ midfield is predominantly French given the representation of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. That number, however, could have been more if an update from The Overlap podcast is to be believed.

While N’Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot and Warren Zaire-Emery represent a special generation of French midfielders alongside the Real Madrid stars, Paul Pogba is one of their compatriots who should have been on the list deservedly.

A moment of madness and a failed drug test, however, appear to have cost him the rest of his professional career.

Pobga was close to Real Madrid

Speaking on the podcast recently, former French footballer and Manchester United legend Patrice Evra revealed that Pogba was close to signing for Real Madrid at one point in his career.

“Paul (Pogba) wanted to go to Real Madrid. Florentino Perez said ‘we can’t give you the same money.’ [His agent] Raiola picked up his phone, called Manchester United.”

Pogba was close to Real Madrid in 2016. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

The timeframe in question, quite clearly, is the summer of 2016 when Pogba was looking for a way out of Juventus after over five years at the club.

The negotiations for his future ran into the month of August with a plethora of clubs interested in his acquisition. Real Madrid was Pogba’s priority but his agent Mino Raiola was focused on getting his client the best economic deal.

In the end, he signed for Manchester United in a deal worth €105 million but his career did not quite take off at the English club. While he did serve as a regular for the Red Devils, inconsistency and regular injuries marred his stint at Old Trafford.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner eventually returned to Juventus on a free transfer in the summer of 2022 but received a doping ban after being tested positive for DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone).

Pogba’s last professional appearance came back in September 2023 and he is banned for the next three years as it stands. Already 31, the player may never return to the field at the peak of his powers again.