Paul Pogba chose Manchester United over Real Madrid to face greater challenges: Mino Raiola

Mino Raiola said Premier League giants Manchester United were always in Paul Pogba's heart.

Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola revealed midfielder was keen on re-joinining Manchester United and work with their manager Jose Mourinho.

The French international received offers from Real Madrid before joining the Red Devils. However, United successfully signed the 23-year-old in the 2016 summer transfer window for a world-record fee of £89m from Juventus, whom he joined in 2012 after leaving Old Trafford.

Since Mourinho took charge of United, the club has signed big names of the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pogba, who are all managed by the same agent. While taking a dig at Arsenal's inability to make big-money transfers, Raiola said the Portuguese tactician played a key role in bringing the former Juventus star back to the Premier League.

The 48-year-old agent, who was behind all the three signings, opined that United had showed their class by making big moves in the summer window despite not featuring in the Champions League.

"It's not just a case of spending the money. It's shouldering the responsibility of spending that money and saying, "yes, this is my man''. Arsenal have the money but do they have the b***s?" Raiola told the Daily Mail.

"I always say to my players we go where we are needed. United will always be one of the biggest clubs in the world whether by reputation or balance sheet.

"Yes, Manchester United had no Champions League and weren't champions but they needed us the most. United had been talking to us for two years about Pogba.

"Paul said United was in his heart, Woodward wanted him at United a year ago and Mourinho had wanted him at Chelsea too, so when the two combined we knew it was right.

"For the player, Real Madrid would have been easier, La Liga, Champions League, but he wanted the greater challenge."

After making his second debut for United in their league game against Southampton on 19 August, Pogba has struggled to settle in the midfield and suffered a goal drought. Despite the uninspiring performances, Mourinho has backed his player to come good soon. Raiola also believes the midfielder will take time to adjust but said he will dominate at the club for 10 years.

"It's true Pogba is not playing his best yet, he is taking time to adjust but people don't always see the bigger picture. He will dominate for 10 years. He is United's lost son," the Italian-born Dutchman added.

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