Insulting whistles and chants on Saturday at Old Trafford, an injury outing on Tuesday at Liverpool, then an almost confirmed package until the end of May: the 2018 world champion, at the end of his contract in June, will probably leave the Red Devils by the small door, without transfer compensation or a big trophy.

"It's highly unlikely that he will play until the end of the season," Manchester United caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick said on Friday after testing the player.

"The doctor told me that he will need at least four weeks to recover and the last match is at the end of May," added the German technician.

The tricolor midfielder was hit in the calf on Tuesday after less than 10 minutes during the Premier League match at Liverpool, where his team sank (4-0 defeat).

He seemed embarrassed for a few minutes when he left the field, limping.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba after his injury on the lawn of Liverpool in the Premier League on April 19, 2022 Oli SCARFF AFP / Archives

Four days earlier, "Pogboum" had been taken to task by some of his own supporters when he was replaced against Norwich, receiving whistles and boos, in addition to some hostile chants.

This probable end of his career at Manchester United contrasts with the hopes raised by the former Le Havre, who passed stealthily in the red jersey in 2011-2012, before returning after a successful stay at Juventus Turin between 2012 and 2016, for a transfer fee of 105 million euros, a world record at the time.

Heading to PSG?

The star of the French declined at the same time as that of his club, unable to return to the level of the mastodons Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

On his Mancunian record, Pogba has only one League Cup and one Europa League, two trophies won in 2017.

"You have to be honest, it doesn't satisfy me, but really not at all. This year, it's dead, we won't win anything yet. Whether it's with Manchester or at another club, I want to win titles", he said in March in an interview with Le Figaro.

In club, he largely disappointed and irritated English supporters, with often mediocre performances, far from those he presented in the France team, and his repeated desires to look elsewhere.

At 29, however, there is no shortage of courtiers and his agent, Mino Raiola, has several possible landing spots in mind.

Press information sent him to Turin or especially to Paris SG next season.

Paul Pogba in the France team with Kylian Mbappé against South Africa in a friendly match in Villeneuve-d'Ascq on March 29, 2022 DENIS CHARLET AFP / Archives

Unstoppable in the France team, the native of Lagny-sur-Marne will have to make the right choice this summer to fly away with a smile on his face, in mid-November, towards Qatar where the Blues hope to remain masters of the World Cup.

If he is restored, Pogba could find his selection comrades in the first half of June.

France will face Croatia, home and away, as well as Denmark and Austria in the Nations League.

© 2022 AFP