Paul Pogba says claims made by Wayne Rooney that him and Jesse Lingard danced in the dressing room after a Manchester United defeat were ‘mean’ and ‘untrue’.

Rooney gave a damning view of the Frenchman’s impact on the Red Devils’ squad in a 2021 column for The Times.

Wayne Rooney played with Paul Pogba for two seasons at Old Trafford

But Pogba is now looking to clear his name as he closes in on a return to football

Rooney wrote: “I do remember one time, coming into training at United the day after a defeat, still feeling very annoyed and walking into the dressing room with Michael Carrick.

“We found Jesse and Paul dancing in there with the music on. I went over, turned it off and took the speakers out of the dressing room — because that’s my mindset, that’s how I’ve grown up in football.

“Paul and Jesse accepted it, because I was the senior player, but in hindsight they were not doing anything wrong, not hurting anyone, and it was just my old-school mentality kicking in.

“As Rio Ferdinand has said, players of our generation just have to get used to this generation and what has changed.”

Those comments contributed to a wider narrative surrounding Pogba during his six years at the club before he left for Juventus in 2022.

Now, responding to the claims, Pogba told Sky Sports: “I want to clarify something because I’ve been hearing stuff that Wayne Rooney once said that we lost a game and me and Jesse (Lingard) were dancing in the changing room.

“You always need a witness on this, okay. So if somebody can confirm what Wayne Rooney said when you were in the changing room, I will accept it.

“If there is not, that’s mean, it is not true.

“When Jesse Lingard tells you – did Jesse Lingard confirm that? Never.

“I never confirmed that because I am someone who is a very bad loser and I respect what I do and I respect the club.

“Me coming to the dressing room and putting on music and Wayne Rooney, the legend of the club, sitting there not saying anything to us – does it match? Do you think it matches?

“Nobody in the club will come and say nothing to us dancing after we lose a game.”

Pogba was speaking to the media just two weeks after his four-year ban from football for doping was reduced to 18 months.

By mutual accord, the midfield player is expected to depart Juventus, giving him the opportunity to launch his career when he can resume formal training in January 2025 and play in March.