Jose Mourinho plays down rift with Paul Pogba and insists he is happy

Jose Mourinho admitted to being ‘in the dark’ on Paul Pogba’s future yesterday and urged Mino Raiola to publicly state his plans for the Manchester United midfielder.

Pogba addressed a potential move to Barcelona while away with France over the international break and has told team-mates he wants to leave Old Trafford.

The United boss claimed he was unsure what Raiola has been engineering behind the scenes ahead of today’s visit to Watford.

‘If I watch Mr Raiola on the screen saying the players wants to leave, and that he is organising a way for him to try to leave or so on, then I will believe,’ Mourinho said.

‘At this moment, I am in the dark. The only thing that is clear for me is that the player never - never in all these days we are together - he never told me that he wants to leave.

‘I also need the agent to tell me or tell you in a way that I can see.’

Sportsmail has reported that Raiola held talks with Barcelona over the summer and Pogba’s situation has further clouded United during a difficult start to the season.

Mourinho added: ‘If he doesn't tell me he wants to leave, it's because he wants to stay. That's my conclusion.’