Old pals Paul Pogba and Josh King went head to head – almost physically – as Manchester United thrashed Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Saturday.
In one of the most watchable encounters since the return of the Premier League, Pogba played his first full 90 minutes in nearly 10 months while King bagged his fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot, with United coming out 5-2 winners.
Pogba couldn’t resist exercising his bragging rights over his former team-mate after the game.
The Frenchman trolled King on Instagram in the aftermath of the match, posting an action shot of the striker nearly appearing to rip his shirt off his back, accompanied with a cheeky caption.
It read: “Bro I told you I would give you my shirt you don’t have to take it like that hahahah.”
Pogba and King rose through the academy ranks together at United before the pair went their separate ways in 2012, with Pogba moving to Juventus and King leaving for Blackburn after loans at Borussia Monchengladbach and various English clubs.
They are both clearly still on good terms after reuniting in the Premier League – and Pogba is evidently in good spirits following his team’s victory.
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s men are now unbeaten in 16 matches – currently the longest run of any top flight side – and are in with a good chance of reaching next season’s Champions League.
United lie in fifth place but they are only two points behind their closest rivals Chelsea and would qualify even without moving up in the table if Manchester City ’s European ban still stands.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth are languishing second from bottom on 27 points after suffering a miserable losing streak since the season restarted.
Next up for United is a trip to Aston Villa – also relegation strugglers – at the same time as Eddie Howe’s side host Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
