MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has aimed a jab at Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola after revealing the Frenchman will have an ankle operation.
Pogba missed Man Utd’s 2-0 defeat at Arsenal and has now been missing from 21 matches this season.
And a clearly unhappy Solskjaer is not impressed with Pogba’s representatives advising him to have an operation now.
Asked when Pogba was expected to return, Solskjaer said: “Three or four weeks maybe, I don’t know.
“He’s been advised to have an operation by his people and he’ll probably do that.”
United did the scans on Pogba’s ankle and his specialist is said to have agreed with the diagnosis of the club’s medical staff.
The disagreement apparently comes with the timing of the op – Pogba’s representatives wanting him to get it done straight away.
Solskjaer later toned down his barb.
The Norwegian added: “We’ve had scans and it’s nothing major.
“It’s something that has to be sorted and dealt with within a timeframe and he’s been advised to do it as soon as [possible] and he’ll probably do it as soon as. So he’ll be out for three or four weeks probably.
“We’ve had consultants looking at him as well and the club has been looking at it, the scans have been done by us. We’ve been without him all season, so the boys who’ve been playing have been fantastic.
“And it is a big blow Paul’s out now, then Scott [McTominay]’s out. Because he’ll be out for [a couple of] months and that’s a big blow for us as well.
“Scotty’s been magnificent and we just hope that Paul can come back, he’ll be back within a monthish.
“It’s been advised that he’ll do it as soon as. We look after our players’ health and are not going to take any risk with any players that don’t feel able to play on.”
Pogba, who was at his brother’s charity game on Sunday, continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford during the transfer window and Raiola is trying to force the star, 26, out of Old Trafford.
The Dutch agent launched a scathing attack on United earlier this week, calling the club out of touch and stating that he would no longer want his clients to play there.
He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica: “Today I would no longer bring anyone there.
“They would also ruin [Diego] Maradona, Pele and [Paolo] Maldini.”
Former United captain Rio Ferdinand and striker Robin van Persie said Pogba must speak out and make his position clear, rather than have Raiola do his talking for him.
He told BT Sport: “If I was advising Paul I would say go and speak out, you are your own man, your voice is going to be heard the loudest.
“Don’t let your agent speak, shut your agent down. You speak and add clarity to this situation so the fans know where you’re at.
“Let your team-mates know where you’re at. The club and manager — the people who are important.”
Van Persie added: “It’s a bit mysterious to me.
“It’s important Paul speaks out and really says what he feels.
“Does he want to stay or does he want to go?”
