Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects Paul Pogba to be a Manchester United player next season despite persistent speculation linking him with a move away from Old Trafford.
Pogba admitted during the recent international break that playing for Real Madrid would be a “dream”, after being questioned on his future by journalists.
The midfielder also suggested that he would one day wish to work alongside Zinedine Zidane, the Madrid head coach and his fellow Frenchman.
United meet Madrid’s historic rivals Barcelona in a Champions League quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, with Pogba expected to start in midfield.
The 26-year-old returns from a one-match European suspension, having been sent off in the last-16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
“Paul is looking forward to tomorrow,” Solskjaer said. “He is a Man United player, one of our big performers on the big stage.
“He knows the game against PSG was not his greatest moment so he is looking forward to the game against Barcelona. I cannot see him not playing for Man United next season.”
Though the most recent speculation on Pogba’s future regards Madrid, Barcelona have previously been linked with the United midfielder.
The Catalans were reported to be interested in Pogba last summer following a breakdown in relations with then-United manager Jose Mourinho.
This week, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu admitted that his club competed with United for Pogba’s signature in 2016.
“When they told us what United had offered, we simply could not raise that sort of money,” he told ESPN.
“Pogba has obviously improved them massively as he is one of the biggest and best names in world football.”
