The recruiter who discovered Paul Pogba has predicted that the Manchester United (opens in new tab) midfielder will join Real Madrid (opens in new tab) for a "new challenge", but believes it could be a mistake for him to do so.
The France international has been persistently linked with a move to the Bernabeu throughout the summer.
European clubs have until Monday to complete their transfer business, but United will not sell Pogba now that they are unable to sign a replacement.
However, Madrid are expected to renew their interest in January or at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
And Franck Sale, Le Havre's head of recruitment who helped spot Pogba as a youngster, believes his former protégé will eventually join the La Liga giants - but he also warns that the player may struggle to shine under a manager like Zinedine Zidane.
"Paul is a man who needs to be challenged. I think he is becoming too comfortable at United. It's not as demanding for him as it was a few years ago," Sale told Optus Sport (opens in new tab).
"I think he is ready for a new challenge, that's obvious. I can see him leaving for another big club searching for this new challenge.
"If Paul has a coach with a strong personality around him, in time there will be a clash somewhere.
"When he left for Juventus (opens in new tab) a few years ago, with Alex Ferguson that was very complicated too. Paul didn't concede because he has such a strong character. So when he says, 'I'm leaving', he's leaving.
"If tomorrow he goes to a big club like a Real Madrid, he'll still have his conflicts, even with Zizou [Zidane]."
Pogba and United will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's shock defeat by Crystal Palace (opens in new tab) when they take on Southampton (opens in new tab) on Saturday.
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