Paul Pogba claims he has been gagged by Manchester United in the latest sign of the deepening tensions between the club’s record signing and manager Jose Mourinho.

Pogba’s relationship with Mourinho has broken down and he was stripped of captaincy duties after informing the manager that he wants to leave the club.

The France midfielder has also been openly critical of the manager’s tactics and been happy to fuel the uncertainty about his own future, with the player eager to join Barcelona despite serious doubts over whether the Catalan club could afford him.

Mourinho was furious that Pogba questioned United’s approach at Old Trafford after the 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers and it has now emerged that the player has been barred from talking any more.

Pogba was asked after United’s turgid 0-0 draw against Valencia if he would stop to talk but the Frenchman told reporters that he was forbidden from speaking. “I’ve been told I’m not allowed,” Pogba said.

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The midfielder had intimated that there was a problem after Saturday’s shambolic 3-1 defeat at West Ham when, asked for comment after the game, he playfully replied: “You want me dead?”. It appeared an acknowledgement then that he could land himself in hot water if he elected to speak to the media.