Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho told Paul Pogba, midfielder and possibly the No.1 player of his team, that he will no longer be the captain of the team.
It's no secret that the two have trouble getting along, but how did their relations become so emotional?
Pogba came from youth training of Man U and became known by the world when he was playing for Serie A's Juventus. In August. 2016, the Red Devil paid 116 million US dollars, which then was the highest price for a soccer player in the world to bring the promising young man back to Old Trafford.
"I am delighted to rejoin United. It has always been a club with a special place in my heart, and I am really looking forward to working with Jose Mourinho," said Pogba. Meanwhile, Mourinho called Pogba one of the best players in the world and said that he will be a key member of the future Man U.
Paul Pogba becomes well-known to the world in Juventus before he was brought back to Manchester United with a record high contract of 116 million US dollars. /VCG Photo
Three months later, during the 1-2 loss in the Manchester derby at home, it was noticed that Pogba did not fit into Mourinho's style. Former Liverpool center Jamie Carragher said that Pogba did not play as requested and instead ran onto the field like a school player.
In March 2017, after Manchester United lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup, Mourinho chose to defend the French young man who did not play well in the game. He called the press criticizing Pogba "jealous" because they could never make even one-tenth of the money that Pogba makes.
In another three months, as Man U finished the 2016-17 season with titles of the English Football League Cup and the UEFA Europa League, Pogba praised Mourinho as "the special one" and said that the boss always trusts and defends him.
Pogba (R) and Mourinho (L) used to admire each other, at least in the beginning. /VCG Photo
The honeymoon between the two came to a turning point in September 2017 after Man U's game against Basel during the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Pogba was the team's captain and got injured in the game, but he departed for Miami instead of returning to Manchester for recovery. Mourinho was reportedly unhappy about it.
In January, during the 0-2 loss against Tottenham Hotspur, Pogba and Mourinho were captured arguing by the camera. When questioned about the incident, the Portuguese manager said that Pogba asked him two questions and he answered them. He also added that the young French player still has a lot to improve.
In February, Pogba's position in the first squad became unstable as he either had to start from the bench or was substituted in the middle of the game from time to time. Then a month later, more and more reports about him and Mourinho falling out appeared. Some even claimed that the two rarely spoke to each other. Moreover, for the first time, news about Manchester United may sell Pogba was on paper.
Pogba wins the 2018 FIFA World Cup champion with France in Russia. /VCG Photo
In July, after Pogba won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, Mourinho said that Pogba's problem was that he did not give the best of himself in Man U. The Portuguese manager believed that Pogba was in a closed environment in Russia and thus he could have the 100 percent focus on soccer instead of hairstyle, music and other distractions.
Later in August, Pogba appeared in the first squad as Man U's captain and brought his team a win in the opener of the 2018-19 Premier League season. After the game, the French midfielder said: "There are things I can say, and there are things I cannot say...otherwise I will get fined."
After Manchester United was forced to accept a draw with newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers in September, Pogba was quoted saying: "When we are at home we should attack, attack, attack. That's Old Trafford. We are here to attack. I think teams are scared when they see Man United attacking and attacking. That was our mistake today." Such comment of his was seen as explicit criticism on Mourinho's approach.
Pogba and Mourinho /VCG Photo
On Wednesday morning, Pogba and Mourinho were found to have another clash before the team's training session when the manager told his player to "get out." Though Man U said no team could take Pogba away with less than 262 million US dollars, therefore the strain between him and Mourinho is not helping - either the team trades him or keeps him.
(Top picture: Manager Jose Mourinho and midfielder Paul Pogba of Manchester United /VCG Photo)