Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho in extraordinary bust-up at Manchester United training ground
It is just the latest proof that the manager's relationship with the £89million midfielder has hit rock bottom
PAUL POGBA stared at Jose Mourinho during an incredible training ground showdown this morning a day after the boss said he would never captain the club again.
It is just the latest proof that the manager's relationship with the £89million midfielder has hit rock bottom.
Yesterday Mourinho punished Pogba by stripping him of his vice-captaincy following his outburst in the 1-1 draw at home to Wolves.
And with tensions running high following the dismal Carabao Cup defeat to Derby, in which the 25-year-old watched from the stands, the pair showed that their relationship is in turmoil.
Pogba runs over to the management team and shakes hands with Michael Carrick before approaching Mourinho and a United press officer who he also shakes hands with.
But the 55-year-old gave United's most expensive player ever the cold shoulder and instead muttered something in his direction.
If looks could kill then Pogba's cold, hard stare towards Mourinho afterwards tells the full story.
The French World Cup winner looks baffled and frustrated as the pair keep their distance before a training drill.
Pogba continues to remonstrate by shrugging his shoulders before team-mate Marcus Rashford appears to try and convince him to calm down.
It is clear evidence that the relationship between the two big egos is at breaking point.
Author & TV body language expert Judi James
There is a moment in this meeting where the two men seem to perform the kind of stare-off and stare-down that prize-fighters use to intimidate one another at the weigh-in before a big fight.
Pogba seems to arrive in ebullient mood, offering slapping handshakes to other players but when he sees Mourinho standing with his hands in his pockets to presumably avoid any greeting rituals with his player he stands rooted to the spot, staring Mourinho down as he mooches round behind him.
Mourinho uses an equally hard stare but Pogba even turns his head to pick up on the aggressive-looking ritual once Mourinho emerges from behind his back.
The player then walks off using a strutting, alpha-style walk before standing with his hands on his hips in a body language signal of splaying that is normally associated with a state of challenge or aggressive arousal.
Despite Jamie Redknapp's claim that there has been an "almighty fall out" between the duo, Mourinho insisted yesterday that it simply wasn't true.
After the Derby defeat he said: "I made the decision for Paul not to be the second captain any more.
“It was exactly the same person who decided Paul was the second captain. No fall-out at all, just decisions I do not have to explain.”
Pogba's super-agent Mino Raiola has further poured fuel on the fire with the player already being heavily linked with a move to Barcelona.
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When asked whether his client had asked Mourinho whether he could leave for the Nou Camp, Raiola responded with "no comment."
What's more worrying for United chiefs is the first footage of the pair having a bust-up is proof of the existing tension between the pair that has been public knowledge for months.
The hierarchy will be increasingly concerned that it is having a serious effect on dressing room morale and the club's results.
Just three wins in their opening six matches has already left them 18 points behind rivals Liverpool.
Manchester United travel to West Ham at the weekend desperate not to lose any further ground on the league leaders.