Former Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra thinks the club should have sold Paul Pogba when they had the opportunity to in the summer.
The French midfielder has been in and out of the side so far this season, and appeared in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting line-up for the first time since the defeat to Arsenal on November 1 for Saturday's game against West Ham.
There has been constant speculation linking him with an exit from the club in recent times, with Real Madrid and Juventus among the clubs touted as possible suitors.
And speaking to Sky Sports ahead of United's game against the Hammers, Evra said the club are more to blame for Pogba's mixed form than the player himself.
"The position of Paul is really easy," he said. "He talked with the board, he wanted to leave United to a certain point, they keep him.
"It's difficult to blame him because he's been honest with the board. Now he's playing for United he should respect the shirt, he needs to respect his team-mates, the manager. And he'll have a great chance.
"But I can already feel people just waiting for Paul to fail tonight. To again criticise him.
"But it's been a problem they didn't deal with at the beginning of the season. That's the truth."
It remains to be seen if any teams try to sign Pogba in January, but United's best chance of getting a transfer fee for him appears to be in the next couple of windows, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2022.
Pogba has continued to play an important role in the French national team, and many have criticised him for appearing to put more effort in when he represents his country than he does when he pulls on a United shirt.
