Rio Ferdinand Talks Paul Pogba's Potential Manchester United Transfer and More

Rio Ferdinand believes there will be an “adverse effect” on morale at Manchester United should a deal to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba not go through.

The former Red Devils centre-back was speaking about heavy speculation linking his former club with a world-record move for the Frenchman. Ferdinand offered an insight into what the players at Old Trafford may be thinking about the transfer saga.

“As a player in the changing room, you’ve been thinking for so long: ‘He’s coming, he’s coming,'" the 37-year-old said, per Samuel Stevens of the Independent. "If he doesn’t sign it could have an adverse effect mentally on the players in the changing room. For a short period of time at least. It’s important they sign him.”

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Some United supporters will have been frantically refreshing various social media streams for weeks to see whether the transfer has been finalised, and the deal does seem to be close to completion. According to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, the move, for a world-record, £100 million fee, will be announced soon.

Pogba was once on United’s books, of course, and he’ll return to Old Trafford as a much-improved player.

In Serie A, the midfielder has gone from strength to strength with the Bianconeri, becoming a major force at the core of a developing side. With his strength, poise and penchant for magnificent moments, it’s no surprise new United boss Jose Mourinho wants to build his team around Pogba,

These numbers from OptaPaolo sum up just how much a positive influence he’s been for this Juventus side since arriving in 2012:

Ferdinand knows what it’s like to be a big-money signing at Old Trafford, having joined from Leeds United for £29.1 million in 2002. He thinks the fee paid for Pogba will be forgotten should the Frenchman perform:

"

Of course it isn’t [good value] but, listen, when Chelsea sold [Nemanja] Matic and bought him back for £20 million-plus it was the same… it’s bigger than that but it’s still a loss. That’s the way it goes. When he comes it’s just going to be down to the black and white: Will he perform? Will Manchester United win trophies?

That’s how you get judged. People were saying when I went there that £30 million was too much but then we started to win and people now look back and think "you know what, it wasn’t that expensive".

"

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Ferdinand suggested his former United team-mate possesses the right kind of attitude to go far in the game too.

“Paul’s like that,” said the former Red Devils man. “He loves football. It’s all about improving and being the best. When he left I asked him why and he said: ‘I want to be the best player in the world.’ He’s on the right track. He’s not there yet.”

Stylistically, he’ll certainly improve United. While Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will add some gloss to United’s forward forays, at the hub of the team, they’ve lacked a thrust for a number of years. Pogba, as well as his ability to make decisive contributions in the final third, will bring that vigour to the middle.

There will be a lot of expectation on Pogba to perform should this deal go through. But players like him cost so much because they’re the full package, meshing ability, maturity and, crucially, a strong mentality. His arrival would give all at Old Trafford a major boost heading into a season that promises so much.