Manchester United should be proud of record Paul Pogba transfer in crazy market, says Jose Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said his club should feel “proud” about signing Paul Pogba as the France midfielder moved closer to rejoining his former team in a world-record transfer.

Pogba, 23, is poised to complete a reported 89 million pounds (HK$902 million) switch to Old Trafford after United and Juventus confirmed on Sunday he was undergoing a medical.

The fee will make the France midfielder the world’s most expensive player and while Mourinho accepts that it is an eye-watering amount of money, he feels it is a sign of the club’s standing in the game.

“I don’t think Real Madrid were upset when they broke the record with Gareth Bale, with Cristiano [Ronaldo],” Mourinho said after watching his side beat Leicester City 2-1 in the Community Shield at Wembley.

“When other people break records, I don’t think it’s a reason to be sad. I think it’s a reason to be proud with the dimension of a club that can do that and can attract players of this dimension.

“If you ask me if I think it’s a lot of money, I think football is crazy. The market has become crazy. When you think this season is crazy, you realise three years later is not crazy any more.

“There are players that cost 10 million that are super expensive. They are players worth 500,000 or one million. What is expensive and not expensive in football, I don’t know any more.