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Pogba's agent confirms United beat out interest from Chelsea, Real Madrid

Reuters

Spend an afternoon with super-agent Mino Raiola, and prepare to suspend disbelief of all things transfer-related.

No stranger to speculation, the Italian was at it again recently, confirming that Manchester United wasn't the only high-profile club to express an interest in his record-breaking client Paul Pogba.

While United splashed the £89 million necessary to secure the services of the player that left the club four years earlier, Raiola concedes that both Chelsea and Real Madrid were among several clubs who expressed an intent to sign the angular French international last summer.

"Mourinho already wanted to bring him to Chelsea last summer, but it was not the right time," Raiola said, courtesy of Sky Sports.

"Zidane wanted him at Real Madrid, but five or six other clubs were after him too. Manchester United now are stronger thanks to Pogba, but Real Madrid are not."

Despite signing with United just weeks after Pogba's Euro dreams ended in defeat against Portugal, Raiola insists that his client's focus was the quadrennial tournament and not the speculation hinting at a return to Old Trafford.

"I never spoke to Pogba about the transfer market when he was taking part in Euro 2016, then he went on vacation because he was very disappointed by the final," Raiola admitted.

"So I went to meet him in Miami to get him up to speed. He explained to us what he wanted. Manchester is his home."

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