Ralf Rangnick orders Paul Pogba back from Dubai as Man Utd star continues recovery

Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has laid down the law with Paul Pogba after ordering the Frenchman to continue his injury rehab at Carrington rather than remaining in Dubai

Posted Saturday, December 11, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has ordered Paul Pogba to return from Dubai as the midfielder continues to rehab his thigh injury.

The Frenchman picked up the issue on international duty last month and hasn't featured for United since the of October he was dismissed shortly after coming on in their 5-0 drubbing against Liverpool.

Since then, Pogba has been rehabbing his injury in Dubai after coming to an agreement with former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But Ralf Rangnick has since arrived at the helm on an interim basis following Solskjaer's dismissal last month - and he revealed on Friday that he'd asked Pogba to return to the club's Carrington training base to continue his recovery work.

Paul Pogba had been rehabbing his injury in Dubai - but has been ordered to return to England by new boss Ralf Rangnick

“We spoke over the phone on Tuesday," Rangnick said ahead of United's Premier League clash with Norwich City this weekend.

"He was still in Dubai. He is expected to come back today and then we will get to know each other in person on Sunday. We had a phone call for about 10 to 15 mins.

“He told me that he is getting better but obviously still not fully fit.

“From what I’ve heard it will take another couple of weeks until he is fit for training again and then, because he has been out for quite some time, it will take another couple of weeks to get him to be match fit.

“In the first instance it’s he gets fully fit to be able to train with the rest of the group then we have to develop him physically and tactically to be also fit to play in the Premier League.”

It's unlikely that Rangnick's call with Pogba will be the last chat that the two have in the coming weeks.

Pogba's contract situation has been well-documented over the past few weeks, and United are desperate to tie the 28-year-old down to a new long-term deal.

There is a hope within the United hierarchy that Rangnick's arrival could help sway Pogba into extending his stay at Old Trafford - with reports last month indicating that Pogba was enthused at the prospect of working with the German innovator.

But with the maverick midfield free to discuss a move overseas with foreign clubs from January, time could be running out for United to entice him to stay in Manchester.