Paul Pogba is back in the headlines after being released by Juventus. The midfielder has had two spells at Manchester United, having initially risen through the club’s youth academy before leaving in 2012.

He later re-joined the Reds in 2016 for a then-world record fee of £89million before departing Old Trafford again in 2022. No one can say that Pogba’s time at M16 was a success despite the fleeting moments of individual brilliance.

The Frenchman was heavily criticised, often harshly, for his performances in red, but his status in the game was that of a world-class talent who was meant to lead United to league titles and European trophies.

The only silverware United won during Pogba’s second spell at the club were the League Cup and Europa League in 2017. It was a pitiful return from a player who promised so much, although it would be unfair to single out Pogba as being the sole reason for that.

And now, with his future in the game uncertain after a doping ban, there had been suggestions that United would allow the Frenchman to train at Carrington when his ban is up. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has since reported on X that these rumours are not true, with Ineos having had an easy decision to make.

Ruben Amorim’s arrival at the Reds signals a new dawn with United going for a young coach with a clear style of play and the personality to go with it. Make no mistake that this is a coup for Ineos and the new football structure they’ve put in place.

But turning back to Pogba would only have one outcome. Like the re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021, nostalgia has served the Reds badly over the past decade and similarly to the Portuguese international, Pogba’s individuality would be ill-suited to the work ethic Amorim will try to instil at M16.

Of course, you need individual brilliance at times, and the best teams have those players to settle tight games. Bruno Fernandes is one such example but his talent is also complemented by hard work.

Pogba never demonstrated he could do that at United, and at 31 now, it’s safe to say that his best days are behind him.