Report: Paul Pogba Has Cost Manchester United £20m Through Premier League Absence

Five-and-a-half years, 219 appearances, and just under 40 goals. And a couple of trophies. Manchester United’s £89million man Paul Pogba may have played his last game for the Red Devils. A free agent in summer 2022, the mercurial midfielder is set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring his right thigh in training with his national team of France during the international break.

How this chapter of Manchester United’s history alongside the prodigal Pogba, who rejoined the club in 2016 after moving for free to Juventus several years earlier, will be objectively perceived may come with time. But one thing’s for certain: he’s cost them a lot. In his half-decade at Old Trafford, Pogba has missed a total of 68 Premier League games, equalling a pay-out of £19,720,000 without even kicking a ball.

Based on the players’ salaries per week and matches missed, BettingOdds.com has calculated how much Manchester United have paid their players through absences and injuries since the 2015/16 season. Topping the list through total games missed during their time at the club since is left-back Luke Shaw, who has cost the club a cumulative £20,690,000 through not playing Premier League football.

However, with Paul Pogba apparently out well into the new year, he will most certainly surpass Shaw’s tally.

The results have been compiled into the following categories:

• TOTAL Losses Through Premier League Games Missed
• TOTAL Losses Through Premier League Games Missed Through Injury/Fitness

NOTE:

• The results were compiled from data provided by Spotrac, SalarySport, the EPL and Transfermarkt;
• The results focus on the Premier League only;
• Goalkeepers have also been included in the study;
• Players’ salaries have been considered per season, per player, since 2015/16.

TOTAL Losses Through Premier League Games Missed

(2015/16 - )

TOTAL Losses Through Premier League Games Missed Through Injury/Fitness

(2015/16 - )