Paul Pogba Poached as Parents Pocketed Pad

Last updated : 07 September 2009 By Editor

Various papers are reporting that United sweetened up the parents of 16 year old French player Paul Pogba to get him to Old Trafford.

From the Guardian:

The controversy over Manchester United's signing of the 16-year-old French midfielder Paul Pogba has taken a fresh twist, amid claims that the player's parents were given €100,000 (£87,000) each, and a house, to bring him to Old Trafford.

Jean-Pierre Louvel, the president of Pogba's former club, Le Havre, made the claims in an interview with a French football magazine. Louvel also alleged the player was given guarantees over wages he would receive when he turned 17. Louvel said he was "deeply disappointed" by the Premier League club's conduct.

United have again strongly denied any wrongdoing. "It is complete nonsense," a spokesman said. "Everything has been done within Fifa guidelines."

Asked how Premier League teams lure teenagers from clubs in their home countries, Louvel said: "They tempt the parents. In the case of Paul Pogba it was fairly simple: €100,000 for the father, €100,000 for the mother and a house.

"Today I can't see why the Paul Pogba case should not set a legal precedent. Fifa does not allow contracts longer than three years before a player has reached 18. We respect that in France; in England it seems that they don't abide by that rule.

Le Havre say Pogba had signed an "accord de non sollicitation" agreement, by which a player effectively agrees to sign a professional contract at a later date. United believe such an agreement is not legally enforceable. They are adamant the player did not have a contract, so they cannot have induced him to break one.