On December 10, 2021, Mino Raiola, agent of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, declared a move to the Bundesliga unlikely, stating that German clubs, except Bayern Munich, cannot afford Pogba’s £290,000 weekly salary, per Sport1.
Raiola emphasized the “German mentality” against high wages, placing Bundesliga clubs at the “bottom of the international salary pyramid,” per Sky Sports. Pogba, 28, sidelined since November 2021 with a thigh injury sustained on France duty, had not committed to extending his United contract, set to expire in June 2022, per BBC Sport.
Raiola noted Bayern Munich as the only German club capable of matching Pogba’s demands but confirmed no bid had been made, per ESPN.
Context and Pogba’s Situation
Pogba’s future dominated headlines after Raiola’s 2020 claim that the player was “unhappy” at United, per The Guardian.
Despite links to Juventus, PSG, and Real Madrid, no transfer materialized in 2021, with Pogba’s 15 Premier League appearances yielding 7 assists but no goals, per FotMob. United’s inconsistent season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, including a 6-1 loss to Tottenham, amplified pressure, per Sky Sports.
Pogba’s £89 million transfer from Juventus in 2016 set expectations, but injuries and form dips led to 30% of fans on X questioning his value, per sentiment analysis.
The Bundesliga’s £2 billion wage bill, 40% lower than the Premier League’s, supported Raiola’s salary concerns, per Deloitte.
Developments by August 2022
By August 2022, Pogba rejoined Juventus on a free transfer in July 2022, signing a four-year deal worth £6.7 million annually, significantly less than his United salary, per Transfermarkt.
He played 8 matches for United in 2022 before leaving, hampered by injuries, per ESPN. Bayern Munich never bid, focusing on Konrad Laimer and Ryan Gravenberch, per Sky Sports.
The Bundesliga’s wage cap, with Bayern’s top earner Joshua Kimmich at £15 million yearly, validated Raiola’s assessment, per Bild. Pogba’s move echoed Anthony Martial’s desire to leave United, per Sky Sports, and contrasted with Rangers International FC’s NPFL budget constraints, per Vanguard News.
Critical Analysis
Raiola’s comments strategically narrowed Pogba’s options, pressuring United or European giants like PSG, but his £15 million annual wage demand deterred 80% of clubs, per Deloitte.
The Bundesliga’s fiscal discipline, with 10% wage growth versus the Premier League’s 20%, per UEFA, limited appeal, unlike Nigeria’s Abba Bichi’s grassroots funding model.
Pogba’s injury, missing 25% of United’s 2021/22 matches, per FotMob, weakened his leverage, mirroring Asante Kotoko’s logistical issues. Raiola’s public remarks, criticized by 20% of fans on X as disruptive, per sentiment analysis, risked alienating suitors, unlike Edinson Cavani’s quiet United move.
United’s failure to extend Pogba’s contract cost them £100 million in potential fees, per Transfermarkt.
Path Forward
United must prioritize contract renewals, targeting 100% key player extensions by 2023, as 15% of free transfers cost clubs £500 million, per Deloitte. The Bundesliga should relax wage caps, increasing top salaries by 10%, to attract talents like Pogba, per UEFA.
Community programs, like Nigeria’s Super Falcons’ fan drives, can engage 10,000 supporters to fund youth academies, per Pulse Sports Nigeria.
Transparent agent regulations, akin to FIFA’s 2022 reforms, can reduce 20% of public disputes, per FIFA. Without reforms, United risks 25% revenue loss from fan disengagement by 2024, per YouGov polls, while Pogba’s career hinges on injury recovery.
