Jose Mourinho was the problem at Manchester United as he wanted to be the centre of attention, according to Paul Pogba's brother Mathias.

Mourinho was sacked by United in December, amid reports of dressing-room unrest having fallen out with star midfielder Pogba in Manchester.

The World Cup winner – who was stripped of the vice-captaincy earlier in the season and dropped to the bench during Mourinho's final few weeks in charge – has flourished since the Portuguese's departure, scoring four goals and tallying three assists under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the Premier League.

And Mathias Pogba pointed the finger at Mourinho when explaining his brother's revival at Old Trafford.

"The problem was Mourinho, right down the line," Mathias Pogba, 28, told RMC Sport. "In the locker room, outside the locker room...everything.

"I know my brother, and you tell him, go, play, the rest, he will do it."

Mathias Pogba added: "From what we see of Mourinho, he always wants to be the maestro – the centre of attention

"Paul, he does not even calculate that aspect, you respect him, he will respect you, you trust him, he will perform for you in big matches."

Paul Pogba has scored seven Premier League goals and nine in all competitions for United, who are fifth ahead of their blockbuster trip to Tottenham on Sunday.

He is considered to be thriving after being freed from the shackles of a tactical approach that did not suit him and a manager who did not trust him.

Jesse Lingard has said of a welcome return to form for an £89 million ($114m) asset: “I can definitely, definitely, see the Paul I used to know.

“I have seen him playing through the ranks and he is back to that player, the player we know.

“Paul’s enjoying his football. He’s playing in the role he likes to play in just inside, off the left.

"He has the freedom to make things happen. He has always got forward in that position and scored goals.

“Ole has helped him 100%. He has given him the confidence and licence to be free, to play his game and do what we know he can