Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has informed club boss Jose Mourinho of his intention to join Spanish giants Barcelona.
According to a UK Daily Mail report, the request has now resulted to his removal as one of the club's captain and the Red Devils squad members were informed of the change, hours before they were booted out of the Carabao Cup by Derby County.
The encounter saw Pogba alongside club captain, Antonio Valencia excused from the match, although the France star appeared as a spectator at the stands.
"The only truth is that I made the decision for Paul not to be the second captain anymore," said Mourinho, even as he was quick to add.
"It was the same person who decided Paul was the second captain. No fallout at all, just decisions I do not have to explain ."
At the last count, Pogba has captained the Red Devils in three games, but the Portuguese insists it doesn't look good for a player eyeing a move away to captain the club.
Interestingly, Mourinho's sour relationship with Pogba is now heading into the 18 months, but they have been communicating via text message with reports concerning the Frenchman's fixture growing by the day.
The report further noted that the French midfielder has informed the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward of his plans to join Barcelona after his agent Mino Raiola agreed a deal with Spanish giants after the summer World Cup in Russia.
However, the club chief seems not ready to let go of the Frenchman but the latest development looks likely, to make life more difficult for all parties at the Premier League.
At the last count, some of the issue the midfielder has faced with Mourinho and his backroom staff includes playing loud music on the club bus, when he should be concentrating on the task ahead.
He also left the squad at Burnley to link up with the French national team
Reacting on the player and manager bust-up, a close source at the club said ' you could cut the atmosphere between Mourinho and Pogba with a knife'.
In addition, the Frenchman's statements in recent time, has not help to douse the tension at Old Trafford.
Pogba noted he could not discuss his situation at the club for fear of being fined. He also complained about the tactics adopted by the Portuguese against Wolves.
"That's Old Trafford,"[/] Pogba noted. "We are here to attack. Teams are scared when they see Man United attacking and attacking. That was our mistake today. We were winning 1-0 so it was positive for us. Then we tried to defend a bit more against the counter-attack. We stopped playing forward like in the first half and we didn't really put them in trouble.
"We are at Old Trafford and we should attack and press like we did against Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal last season. When we play like this it's easier."
Mourinho was furious after failing to beat Wolves game and was tough on his team members during Monday and Tuesday session.
Speaking on Tuesday night, the former Chelsea boss termed the Wolves draw an "important lesson, a lesson I repeat week after week, a lesson some boys are not learning. Every team that play Man Utd are playing the game of their lives. We need to match that aggression, motivation and desire, 95 per cent isn't enough."
So far, Pogba has netted four goals in seven matches this campaign with three from spot-kicks, but the Frenchman appears set on quitting Old Trafford two years after rejoining the club at a world record fee from Juventus.
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