Manchester United taunt Real Madrid after beating Spanish giants to Paul Pogba

MANCHESTER UNITED have taunted rivals Real Madrid after beating them to the world-record signing of Paul Pogba.

By Jeremy Cross, Chief Sports Writer                     

Pogba has snubbed Real to join United from Juventus in a £112m deal that makes him the most expensive footballer on the planet.
United spent the last two months going head-to-head with Real bosses in a desperate battle to land the France ace.
The Premier League outfit reckon missing out on the midfielder is a major kick-in-the-teeth for the Spanish giants and European champions.
And in another dig at Real, United have revealed Zinedine Zidane’s men have tried but failed for a second time to land David De Gea this summer.
The European rivals had a huge fall-out 12 month ago when De Gea’s proposed £25m move to the Bernabeu collapsed at the last minute.
 

It sparked a furious row between the two clubs, with both of them blaming each other and respective leaders Ed Woodward and Florentino Perez trading insults in public.
But now United believe they have landed a decisive blow to Real’s reputation and ability to lure the biggest and best talent to La Liga.
Senior figures at Old Trafford insist signing Pogba proves United are still a big attraction - despite not being in the Champions League - and that the lure of the Premier League is now bigger than ever.
The 23-year-old has signed a five-year-deal with United worth £275,000-a-week and trained with Jose Mourinho’s squad for the first time yesterday.

 WINNERS: United beat Real Madrid to Pogba's signature

Starsport understands Real made a significant effort to sign Pogba right until the end and were prepared to match United’s bid.
But United were delighted when Pogba turned his back on the most successful club of all time in favour of rejoining the one he left in 2012.
Pogba believes he has unfinished business at Old Trafford and that United are a more exciting project under Mourinho.
It is understood one of the decisive factors in Pogba snubbing Real for United was Mourinho, who targeted him as soon as he agreed to replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

 

United, meanwhile, are considering a number of offers for unwanted World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The German ace has been frozen out and ordered to train with the youngsters after Mourinho decided he was not part of his plans.
Mourinho has come under fire for his treatment of Schweinsteiger, who only joined United from Bayern Munich 12 months ago in a £12m deal.
But United are determined to press on with their plans to sell him and there has been strong interest in the 32-year-old, despite his £200,000-a-week wages.
It is understood both Milan clubs are keen on Schweinsteiger along with a host of Premier League outfits.