Fans could convince Pogba to stay at Manchester United insists boss Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the adulation from Manchester United fans can persuade Paul Pogba to sign a new contract at Old Trafford.

Pogba was outstanding in Saturday's 5-1 win over Leeds, making four assists as a jubilant Old Trafford was filled to capacity for the first time in 17 months.

The Frenchman will be a free agent when his current £290,000-a-week deal runs out in June, and so far he has rejected United’s offers of new terms.

Asked if the love from supporters can change Pogba’s mind, Solskjaer replied: ‘The short answer is yes!’

He added: ‘The last 18 months have been strange. The only interaction has been through media. You’ve watched the games on telly and haven’t had that connection.

‘So to be reunited with the fans again, like Paul and Bruno (Fernandes) today, is important. This is Man United, the real Man United. This is how I sold Man United to Edinson (Cavani) for example. You can’t leave after one season playing with no fans. That’s Man United: fans, players, everyone together.’

Solskjaer was delighted with United’s opening-day performance as they swept aside their old rivals with a hat-trick from Fernandes and other goals from Mason Greenwood and Fred.

‘Paul has got that vision, he has got that quality,’ said the United boss. ‘I know the headlines will probably be about Bruno or Paul but this is a team effort.

‘I am very impressed with Paul’s fitness levels as well. He looks fit, ready to go. I love seeing Paul and Bruno, these guys smiling.

‘Sir Alex Ferguson, the gaffer, always used to say enjoy yourself. Express yourself. You’ve got to enjoy the privilege and the pressure and the responsibility of playing in front of 75,000 fans at Old Trafford and millions watching on TV. But to get to smile, you have to do the hard work.’

Fernandes also paid tribute to Pogba who set up all three of his goals before going off in the 65th minute.

‘People talk about the quality of Paul, but his quality is not in discussion,’ said Fernandes. ‘We know what he can do and today he showed that. He’s an important player for us. We know to expect these kind of performances from Paul.

‘We missed the fans. We waited so long, so everyone's happy for them today.’

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa was left to reflect on his second four-goal defeat at Old Trafford in the space of eight months following a 6-2 hammering in December.

‘It was difficult for us to recover the ball and to create danger,’ admitted Bielsa. ‘The succession of goals after we equalised we could not react. They were superior to us clearly.’