Manchester United rejected Paul Pogba's attempts to sign a new contract at the club in 2019 and now face losing the Frenchman on a free.
Pogba is approaching the final six months of his current deal, and while he has not yet ruled out signing an extension, he is known to be considering all his options, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus among the sides keen to sign him.
It's all a bit of a mess, but according to the Daily Mail, it's one which United could have avoided had they taken Pogba up on his offer of a new deal back in 2019.
As the story goes, Pogba approached United two years ago to make it clear that he wanted to sign an extension. He was 12 months removed from a stellar showing with France at the 2018 World Cup and had plenty of elite sides on his tail.
However, for whatever reason, United declined to offer him that new deal and instead resorted to triggering his one-year extension clause in 2020.
Since then, United have made one formal offer of a new contract to Pogba, who was unimpressed with the terms on the table. He asked the team to improve it, but that proposal is yet to arrive.
It's for that reason that Pogba is believed to be confused by suggestions he is holding the club to ransom. The Frenchman has always made it clear that he is not against signing and has left it up to United to convince him to do so.
Pogba's argument has rarely been financial and instead centred on the idea that he wants to be regularly competing for major trophies - something United have struggled with in recent years.
There was increased optimism earlier in the season after United's high-profile recruitment and impressive form, but things have slowed down at Old Trafford and Pogba's future is up in the air once again.
As it stands, he will be eligible to talk to overseas clubs in January, and Pogba is expected to receive no shortage of offers.
Source : 90min