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Report: Pogba now thinking about staying at Manchester United

Alex Livesey - Danehouse / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Paul Pogba is changing his mind about Manchester United - and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a big reason why.

The embattled Frenchman is happy to stay at the club and no longer agitating for a move abroad, sources told ESPN's Julien Laurens.

After several months out with a nagging ankle injury, Pogba returned to United's lineup in June. While he was sidelined, Solskjaer went to great lengths to defend and praise the player, calling him the "best all-around midfielder in the world" in December.

Pogba's relationship with Solskjaer is strong, according to Laurens, and he now believes the Norwegian is building a competitive team.

But Pogba seemed destined to leave United before the Premier League was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Red Devils were ready to cash in as well, reportedly valuing Pogba at €100 million in February. Potential suitors included Real Madrid and Juventus, who sold the 27-year-old to United in 2016 for a then-world-record €105-million fee.

Mino Raiola, Pogba's agent, said at the time that he favored a return to Juventus and described Italy as Pogba's second home. Raiola even held preliminary talks with Juventus director and former player Pavel Nedved.

But Laurens reports that Pogba's mood has improved since then. He's fully recovered from the ankle injury and regularly starting matches.

Pogba's contract runs until next June, but United have an option to extend it by another year.

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