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Fergie confirms Pogba’s farewell

Manchester United have confirmed Paul Pogba has joined Italian champions Juventus, with manager Alex Ferguson blasting the teenager for a lack of respect and claiming the deal was done “a long time ago”.

French midfielder Pogba, 19, was considered one of the outstanding talents to emerge from the club’s Academy in recent years but his future was consistently questioned last year as he rejected offers of a new deal at Old Trafford.

Now Ferguson has announced the formal end of his time at United, telling MUTV: “Pogba signed for Juventus a long time ago as far as we’re aware.”

United had presented improved terms — and a promise of improved first-team opportunities — to Pogba, but he was not swayed.

The news left Ferguson, who had nevertheless been expecting the decision, fuming.

“It is disappointing. I don’t think he showed us any respect at all, to be honest,” he said.

“I’m quite happy that if they carry on that way, they’re probably better doing it away from us.”

Pogba arrived at United from Le Havre in 2009 — a move that infuriated the French side.

He went on to make just seven first-team appearances for the Red Devils, all last season and all off the bench.

Ferguson, meanwhile, insists Dimitar Berbatov has not been unfairly treated at the club, praising the “fantastic talent” of the striker whom he expects to be involved in their pre-season tour.

The Bulgaria international has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford for several months having fallen down the pecking order last season.

There were murmurings of discontent from the 31-year-old, who scored just nine times in 21 appearances in the previous campaign – despite being the league’s joint top scorer the year before.

But Ferguson has defended his handling of Berbatov.

“I don’t think I treated Dimitar unfairly but he can feel disappointed that he didn’t get more football,” he said.

“He’s a fantastic footballer. It wasn’t a great season for him last season, partly because I settled more with Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck...and Chicharito (Javier Hernandez).

“Nothing has happened with Dimitar and he’ll join the tour to South Africa and China.”

United have added Nick Powell and Shinji Kagawa to their squad so far this summer and Ferguson hopes to make further acquisitions.

“We’re working on one or two things but there’s nothing really to tell you to be honest.

“We always try to get our work done at the end of the season. When you don’t get deals done immediately and you’re negotiating with a club over a long period, then you can’t expect to just snap your fingers and get it done.”

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