MANCHESTER, England — World-record signing Paul Pogba will not be available for Manchester United‘s first game of the Premier League season as he is serving a ban carried over from his time at Juventus.
And it has taken United manager Jose Mourinho by surprise.
England’s Football Association said Friday that Pogba collected a one-match ban after being booked twice in the Coppa Italia at the end of last season. The suspension has been transferred to England.
The France midfielder, signed for $116 million this week, must sit out United’s away match against Bournemouth on Sunday.
Mourinho said he only received the information on Wednesday — a day after Pogba completed his protracted transfer.
"I knew the situation with the yellow cards," Mourinho said, "but I didn’t know at that time if an accumulation of yellow cards (in Italy) would bring a player suspension (in England).
"I didn’t know if a suspension from Italian football would be for the corresponding competition in England, which would be the first FA Cup match. I didn’t know so I was waiting for the decision."
Pogba’s first game in his second spell at United could be a home match against Southampton on Aug. 19.
Mourinho appeared not to be bothered.
"I don’t speak about suspended players or injured players, I speak only about the ones that are ready to play," Mourinho said. "So I forget Paul for a few days."
