MANCHESTER United has completed the signing of Paul Pogba from Juventus for a reported world record fee of 89 million pounds (US$116 million). The 23-year-old returns to Old Trafford four years after leaving the club as an 18-year-old, becoming Jose Mourinho’s fourth signing of the summer.

    The France international is contention to make his second United debut in the opening Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth on Sunday (Aug. 14), but having had no pre-season following France’s European Championship campaign, the home game against Southampton on Aug. 19 could be a more realistic date.

    “I am delighted to rejoin United,” he told the club’s official website. “It has always been a club with a special place in my heart and I am really looking forward to working with Jose Mourinho. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Juventus and have some fantastic memories of a great club with players that I count as friends. But I feel the time is right to go back to Old Trafford. I always enjoyed playing in front of the fans and can’t wait to make my contribution to the team.”

    Mourinho added: “Paul is one of the best players in the world and will be a key part of the United team I want to build here for the future. He is quick, strong, scores goals and reads the game better than many players much older than he is. At 23, he has the chance to make that position his own here over many years.”

    Pogba was signed by United from French side Le Havre as a 16-year-old and was part of a team that also featured Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison that won the FA Youth Cup in 2011. But a lack of first team opportunities saw Pogba leave United at the end of his contract the following summer to join Juventus. In Turin, he won four consecutive Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia twice.

    (SD-Agencies)