Antonio Valencia leaving Old Trafford on a free transfer, his contract due to expire in June, the Frenchman captained Manchester United in the 2-1 win over Leicester in the season’s opener, but fell out with ex-boss Jose Mourinho in September, with the Portuguese vowing Pogba would never wear the captain’s armband again.
Pogba is in line for United leadership role with Valencia is leaving in the summer, and with Mourinho is no longer at the helms of affairs, interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who may be handed the Red Devils job permanently, sees the French World Cup winner as the right man to take over from Valencia going forward.
Despite seeing Ashley Young captain United frequently in Valencia’s absence, Solskjaer admitted Pogba has prospects for the role earlier in the season.
“You can see what winning the World Cup meant to him, so for me, yes, Pogba’s captain material,” Solskjaer was quoted as saying.
Pogba’s form has continued to blossom under the Norwegian since replacing Mourinho at the Theatre of Dreams back in December 2018.
At the last count, Pogba has netted nine times in 14 matches since Solskjaer’s arrival, even as he could only manage five in 20 appearances under Mourinho.
Antonio Valencia will be the first Manchester player to leave Old Trafford at the summer after both player and club failed to reach an agreement over new contract talks.
The Red Devils captain has only made eight appearances this campaign playing just five Premier League matches and three Champions League games.
The Ecuadorian international has been suffering from loss of form and recurring injury problems which have kept him out in most part of the 2018-19 campaign.
