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Football

03rd Oct 2018

Paul Pogba doubles down on claim he is not allowed to speak to the media

Pogba was asked to comment after Tuesday's stalemate with Valencia

Darragh Murphy

Paul Pogba has been warned to keep quiet.

Pogba, who has previously been very vocal, has been instructed to avoid speaking to the media amid reports that his relationship with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit an all-time low.

As the French midfielder passed reporters following Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Valencia in the Champions League, he was asked to comment on the stalemate and his response was very telling.

“I’ve been told I’m not allowed,” Pogba said, according to the Telegraph.

Pogba’s succinctness followed an even more concise response after the weekend’s humiliating defeat to West Ham.

When United’s record signing was approached by journalists to give his take on the Premier League match, during which he was substituted in the 70th minute, he hinted at being gagged by the club.

“You want me dead?” Pogba said, suggesting that he couldn’t give his honest opinion without facing serious repercussions.

Pogba played much better against Valencia than he did against West Ham, which wouldn’t be hard, but it was still another disappointing outing for the World Cup winner.

The deteriorating relationship between Pogba and his manager has been covered extensively in the media in recent weeks, with a tense training exchange filmed the day after Pogba was stripped of United’s vice-captaincy.