DAVID DE GEA treated his Manchester United team-mates to a bonding meal out – but Paul Pogba was among the players to give it a miss.
The Red Devils players headed to Juan Mata's restaurant on Wednesday night to bolster the morale following the Carabao Cup scare against Rochdale.
The penalty shootout win followed the 2-0 defeat at West Ham on Sunday but according to the Daily Mail, United's squad try to hold a dinner monthly to keep together and address any issues.
It is understood around ten players made it to Tapeo and Wine in Manchester city centre, where De Gea covered the bill following the signing of his new £350,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford.
But Pogba – who was snubbed for the captaincy by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in favour of Axel Tuanzebe – decided not to join.
The Frenchman, 26, became a dad earlier this year and no doubt wanted to be with his family – or simply head to bed – after the game, which did not finish until almost 10pm.
As revealed by SunSport, he is, though, more ready than ever to leave Manchester United – and will try and force through a move in January.
The sticking point over his desire to move to Real Madrid, or back to Juventus, will be the fee.
United insist he is worth £180MILLION — a value neither club would match in the summer when Pogba first wanted out.
But Pogba was not the only one who opted out of the team meal.
Marcos Rojo, Sergio Romero, Ashley Young, Phil Jones and big-money defender Harry Maguire – whose baby daughter was born in April – also missed it.
But despite their no-shows, they remain important figures in the dressing room.
United do not play again until Monday night, when they host Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Pogba has not featured in the Premier League since the 1-1 draw with Southampton on August 31 so Solskjaer will be hopeful his return from injury can inspire a return to form for his side.
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