Paul Pogba: Former Manchester United midfielder 'cried' because of Sir Alex Ferguson, says his mother

The midfielder was given few opportunities to impress during his three-year spell at Old Trafford

Pogba, pictured during a Manchester United training session in 2012 (Getty)

Paul Pogba was reduced to tears by Sir Alex Ferguson during the midfielder’s time at Manchester United, according to his mother.

The 23-year-old, who could be in line to return to Old Trafford this summer, made just seven first-team appearances during his three years in Manchester after signed from Le Havre in 2009.

The France international’s final season with the club in 2011/12 was tainted by a highly-publicised contract dispute and, despite starring in United’s FA Youth Cup winning side of that year, he failed to sign a new deal.

Pogba subsequently left on a free transfer to Juventus, where he has established himself as one of the continent’s leading midfielders, and his mother now claims that the lack of first-team football upset her son so much that he cried.

Yeo Moriba told AFP: “We had got together with his brothers and we decided: he [Pogba] won’t re-sign.

“Ferguson punished him, he didn’t play him, Paul was alone. He even cried in Ferguson’s office over the way he was treated.”

After Pogba’s exit, Ferguson said: "Pogba signed for Juventus a long time ago as far as we're aware. Which is disappointing.

"I don't think he showed us any respect at all so, to be honest, I'm quite happy."

In his most recent book, Leading, the Scot blamed Pogba’s departure from United on the player’s agent, Mino Raiola.

“We had Paul under a three-year contract, and it had a one-year renewal option which we were eager to sign. But Raiola suddenly appeared on the scene and our first meeting was a fiasco,” he wrote.

"He and I were like oil and water. From then on, our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to ingratiate himself with Paul and his family and the player signed with Juventus.”