Regardless of how well he plays for Manchester United, Paul Pogba somehow always makes the headlines.
That’s the price you pay for being the most expensive transfer in football history, as with the glory and the attention comes the analysis and the criticism.
It isn’t just from the media either.
During games, his performances are scrutinised by football fans around the world, even if they don’t support Manchester United, and comments are continuously posted on social media.
In fact, according to Giancarlo Sergi, director of SINERGI Sports Consulting agency in Lausanne, Switzerland, discussions about the France international take up almost a third of social media chatter in England.
He said, speaking to Le Temps: “Pogba is followed by more than 13 million fans on social media, In England, 30% of conversations on these networks concern him. This promotional power can, at any time, become commercial power.”
The article, looking at how Pogba is first and foremost a marketing tool for Manchester United, analysed how even without performing on the pitch, the Frenchman is still the key to the club’s millions in years to come.
Valued by the CIES Football Observatory at around €120m on today’s market, the midfielder’s summer transfer leaves Sergi thinking Adidas might have pushed for the deal to happen.
He continued: “We’re at such a level of marketing that it wouldn’t surprise me if Adidas had a word. Pogba had himself an interest in signing a contract with a club sponsored by Adidas, running the risk of losing his personal contract with the brand.”
Considering Adidas spent most of the summer teasing the transfer around the world through advertising, that really wouldn’t come as a shock in the slightest.
