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"I want to stay, but the future … nobody knows it."
That's what Cristiano Ronaldo said 12 months before he resigned from Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009.
Speculation about Paul Pogba's United future has not been as intense as Ronaldo's 10 years ago, but there is plenty of time to change over the next few months.
It has become a theme in recent years – not just with United players, but with players from all clubs – to speak much more openly to the press when they are on an international mission with their country.
International press conferences provide players with the platform that allows them to make their point of view heard without the restrictions of addressing reporters to clubs.
Pogba is the latest to have let his language get away from the spotlight of the English media.
"As I've always said, Real Madrid is a dream for all – it's one of the biggest clubs in the world," said Pogba before France's qualifying match for Euro 2020 against Moldova, Friday night. "There is also [Zinedine] Zidane as a coach and it's a dream for all those who love football. "
It would be too easy to miss Pogba's comments, but the reality is that what he said is useless and that it will spark an unannounced review of his future at a crucial moment in United's season. .
Pogba took a sheet from Ronaldo's book and added the sentence from the textbook: "We do not know what the future holds, I'm in Manchester and I'm happy" – but he could have gone one step further and to deflate. the question of Real Madrid instantly.
The Frenchman was in a similar position earlier in the campaign when, in his confrontation with Jose Mourinho, he was tied to a departure from Old Trafford.
"Who knows what will happen in the coming months," Pogba said last September – coincidentally during his absence in France.
On this occasion, it was Barcelona, it is Real Madrid.
The relationship between Pogba and Mourinho may have been irreparable at the time, but he did little to badure United's fans of his commitment to the club.
Pogba's career may not end at Old Trafford. It's likely that will not be the case, but while he's at United, it might be wise not to flirt with other clubs and describe them as 'dream' destinations. .
United's efforts for the rest of the season should be firmly focused on the top four spots and the Champions League, but Pogba's comments ensured that his future beyond the end of the season would become a subplot.
The task of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now to make sure that it does not become a distraction.
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