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.

Pogba has refuted claims that he and Lingard were dancing in the dressing room after a defeatAFP or licensors

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.

Wayne Rooney (right) played with Paul Pogba (left) for two seasons at Old TraffordAFP or licensors

But Pogba is now looking to clear his name as he closes in on a return to footballSky Sports News YouTube

“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.

The midfielder is set to leave Juventus by mutual consent – which will allow him to kickstart his career when he can officially return to training in January 2025, before returning to action in March.

During his interview with Sky Sports that was released on Wednesday, he accepted responsibility but believes the initial four-year ban, which has now been reduced to 18 months, was harsh.

“Yes, of course [he accepts responsibility]. That means I take responsibility of yes, I took the supplement,” he said.

“I didn’t triple check, let’s put it like that, even if it came from a professional. If I have to be punished, I’m fine with it. But it should never be four years.”

Asked why he took the drug, he said: “I would tell you the whole story, but the easy way is I would get you the document.

“Then you can see it for yourself, it explains everything. That’s the only thing I would say.

“Not at all [to do with fitness], seriously you have all the answers [in the document], it was just general stuff. It had nothing to do with injury and nothing to do with the document.

“It’s like supplements that you would take. Probably you would take it, you go to the pharmacy and get the supplements. In my case it was totally different as it was given by a professional for just having a supplement just for the normal health. But there was a mistake there.”