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MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United's world-record signing Paul Pogba is ready to make his season debut at home to Southampton in the English Premier League on Friday, according to manager Jose Mourinho.
Pogba, who left United at age 19 for Juventus four years ago and was re-signed for $116 million, has been training for 11 days. But the France midfielder isn't yet ready to play a full match.
"Yes, he's ready to play," Mourinho told a news conference on Thursday.
"Ninety minutes? I don't believe. Super performance? I don't believe. But in condition to accelerate his process of integration in the team, that's for sure."
Pogba missed United's opening league game — a 3-1 win at Bournemouth last weekend — because of a ban carried over from his time at Juventus.
But Mourinho highlighted that Pogba would need less time to fit in to the club's set-up, as a former United player.
"Adaptation is really easy because he is a boy from here, he knows the club, he knows everybody," Mourinho said. "There's no need for time to adapt."
Mourinho was also upbeat about his other headline signing, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has already spoken about staying for the optional second year attached to his one-year contract.
The 34-year-old Swedish forward joined the 20-time English champions at the start of July and marked his league debut with a superb goal against Bournemouth.
"I ask every day about his wife, kids, integration, house, everything is fine, everybody is happy. His motivation is really high. So yes, I see him here, no doubts for the next two years," Mourinho said.
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