Zimpapers Logo

Pogba played for Manchester United but left to join Juventus on a free transfer in 2012

Paul Pogba is set to be officially confirmed as a Manchester United player again after his world record £100 million move was finally sealed on Thursday night.

After weeks of negotiations, United have agreed a huge fee for the Juventus star to complete Jose Mourinho’s summer spending spree.

United are eager to parade their new signing — who completed a medical in Los Angeles and will wear the No 6 shirt — and are set to officially announce his arrival.

It means the player who left Old Trafford for next to nothing in 2012 returns as the stellar signing of the summer — in a world record transfer which smashes the British mark by an incredible £40m.

The deal for the 23-year-old France midfielder is done after Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola held further talks with Juventus officials and lawyers in Turin on Thursday afternoon.

United and Juventus have agreed to pay a fee to Raiola with part of his 20 per cent bonus being accounted for in Pogba’s overall deal.

It is understood, however, that Juventus will announce the fee at £84.3m on account of the tax they are due to pay on the transfer. The current world record transfer fee is the £86m paid by Real Madrid to Tottenham for Gareth Bale in 2013.

Pogba had a medical in Los Angeles after his recent holiday in Florida before signing a five-year contract worth £290 000 a week.

The add-ons will include a bonus to Juventus should he renew his contract at United and another should he win the Ballon d’Or.

The France star was spotted out and about in Beverly Hills on Thursday visiting Mr Chow — a high-end Chinese cuisine restaurant — and shopping for a new pair of shoes.

Pogba left Old Trafford in July 2012 after the then United manager Sir Alex Ferguson refused to agree to Raiola’s demands for an improved contract. Juventus paid them just £800,000 in compensation.

He becomes United’s fourth signing since Jose Mourinho was appointed as manager, following defender Eric Bailly, striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The previous transfer record paid by a British club was the £59.7m United forked out for Argentina winger Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid in August 2014.

The midfielder’s agent will receive a €20m commission upon the completion of the transfer, with Pogba set to pocket €13m per season in wages at Old Trafford as well as €7m in image rights.

Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his interest in Everton defender John Stones, hinting at a move for the England international ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign.

The 22-year-old, who is said to be valued at £50m by the Toffees, is currently on a pre-season tour of Germany with Ronald Koeman’s side. — mailonline.