CARDIFF, Wales — Nemanja Matic does not expect Paul Pogba to leave Manchester United and believes the Frenchman is vital for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to be successful next season.
Pogba is wanted by Real Madrid and Juventus and was left out of the squad for United’s final friendly against AC Milan, prompting fresh speculation he could be on the verge of leaving Old Trafford.
Pogba and Matic have been together throughout the tour of Australia, the Far East and Norway, and the Serbian said he has heard nothing to suggest the World Cup winner will depart.
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And as United look to break back into the top four after finishing sixth last season, Matic insists it is crucial the midfielder stays.
“I knew you were going to ask me that!” Matic said with a laugh when asked about the summer of speculation surrounding Pogba’s future.
“Of course, he’s a great player and very important for the team. We will see what is going to happen.
“He is a Manchester United player, and of course we will be happy if he stays. I don’t see that he’s going to leave, but in football, everything is possible.”
Solskjaer has made it clear he wants Pogba to stay and said after the penalty shoot-out victory over Milan he has “no doubts” he will.
The Norwegian cannot afford to lose another midfielder after seeing Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera leave in the past six months.
Herrera’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain has left a hole in Solskjaer’s preferred midfield from last season, but Matic believes there are players already at the club ready to fill the void.
“The players who are in the changing room, we are ready to play,” he said.
“I don’t know if the club will sign someone before the transfer deadline or not.
“I think the guys are happy in the changing room and, of course, every good player is welcome, but I don’t know the ideas the club has.
“The players in the changing room have the quality to play for Man United, and they will show that on the pitch.”
United have until Thursday’s transfer deadline to add more players to their squad before kicking off the campaign with Chelsea’s visit to Old Trafford three days later.
It will give Matic a chance to reunite with his former teammate Frank Lampard — the new boss at Stamford Bridge — although he’s hoping the former England midfielder gets off to a tough start in his new role.
“He’s a great guy and he was a great player of course,” said Matic.
“He was always very professional and I wish him luck — but not in the first game!
“They have a lot of good players, so it’s not going to be easy. It’s not going to be easy for them, either, because we are a good team. As I said, in this kind of game every detail can change the game. For sure it’s going to be very interesting.”
