Ralf Rangnick insists he WON’T convince Paul Pogba to stay at Manchester United if he wants to leave

Just one week in the job and Ralf Rangnick isn’t pulling any punches as Manchester United’s new interim boss.

Confronted with the thorny issue of Paul Pogba’s contract impasse on Friday, Rangnick insisted he wouldn’t try to convince an unhappy player to stay.

Pressed on the subject of Pogba and his team-mates rehabbing injuries abroad, Rangnick was equally unequivocal. From now on they will remain in Manchester and use the club’s medical facilities.

Ralf Rangnick (left) said he won’t convince Paul Pogba (right) to stay at Manchester United

Pogba flew back to Manchester on Friday after three weeks of rehabilitation work in Dubai

Pogba’s three-week sojourn in Dubai for treatment on a thigh injury is hardly the first time the Frenchman has jetted off to the sunshine to recuperate. Florida is another popular retreat.

When he spent three months out of action with an ankle problem two years ago, Pogba went to Dubai then popped up in Miami, posting a video of himself playing basketball with NBA star Jimmy Butler — followed by another of him dancing at brother Florentin’s wedding in France.

It raised questions over United’s treatment of Pogba and policy of letting other players like Luke Shaw and Nemanja Matic recuperate in Dubai when the club has its own state-of-the-art medical department. 

Rangnick said players should want to play for Manchester United or it doesn’t make sense to keep them

Rangnick has just got his feet under the table, but he hasn’t wasted any time changing that approach after speaking with club doctor Steve McNally and Robin Sadler, head of rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

‘My former clubs were always trying to make sure the rehab should take place in the club itself,’ he said on Friday.

‘As far as I can tell, the medical department is really good with many different approaches towards rehab. I would not want players to do their rehab abroad, but the decision on Paul was taken before I came.

‘I’ve spoken to the medical department, that in the future I want players with injuries to stay here.’

It may have been a coincidence that Pogba made his way home from Dubai on Friday having spoken to Rangnick by phone on Tuesday, with United insisting his return was planned.

They will meet on Sunday but Pogba isn’t expected back in action for another month.

Rangnick also made clear that from now on United players will complete their rehab at the club

Rangnick added: ‘We had a phone call for about 10 to 15 minutes. He told me that he is getting better but still not fully fit. We will get to know each other in person on Sunday.

‘It will take another couple of weeks until he is fit for training again, and then he has been out for quite some time so it will take another couple of weeks to get him to be match fit.’

The topic of Pogba’s future cast a shadow over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho before him, but Rangnick was forthright over the prospect of United’s record £89million signing leaving for nothing when his deal expires in the summer.

‘If a player does not want to play for a club like Manchester United medium or long-term, I don’t think it makes sense to convince him to change his mind,’ he said.

‘This is such a massive club with such fantastic support, I don’t think anyone in the club should try to convince a player to stay.’

The same is likely to apply to Pogba’s compatriot Anthony Martial after his agent claimed on Friday that he wants to leave in January. Donny van de Beek and Dean Henderson may also seek moves.