Manchester United transfer news: Zinedine Zidane opens door for Paul Pogba to join Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane has opened the door for Paul Pogba to join him at Real Madrid should he decide to leave Manchester United.

Pogba has cut a far happier figure since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as United manager, having experienced a public falling out with predecessor Jose Mourinho that saw the £89m signing dropped from the first team earlier this season.

But the possibility of the 26-year-old leaving Old Trafford for a second time remains alive, and Madrid would be among the few clubs who could afford Pogba’s hefty transfer fee and large wage demands.

With Zidane back at the helm, Madrid are set to rip up their team and hive the Frenchman the squad revamp that he wants, and he gave a glowing reference of fellow World Cup winner Pogba when asked about him on Saturday.

“I like Pogba a lot,” Zidane said. “That is not something new. I know him personally, he's different and he gives you something different that very few players can offer.

“If when his experience at United is over and he wants to come why would he not come to Madrid?”

Zidane’s openness in discussing Pogba may raise fears in Manchester that the midfielder could be looking to leave sooner rather than later, with reports in Spain on Sunday claiming that his agent, Mino Raiola, has already made contact with the Liga club regarding a future transfer.

“He has always said that after Manchester United he has always liked Madrid, and that even more so Madrid plus Zidane,” he added.

But United’s progression to the Champions League quarter-finals may be enough to appease Pogba in his desire to be challenging for trophies – particularly when Madrid are struggling so much on the domestic front and already out of European competition.