Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has
talked up new signing Paul Pogba ahead of his
second Red Devils debut, suggesting the
Frenchman could be the finest midfielder on the
planet.
After leaving Old Trafford for Juventus four years
ago, Pogba returned to the club this summer for a
world-record transfer fee and is set to make his
first appearance of the campaign against
Southampton on Friday.
On the cusp of the game, Mourinho spoke about
where the 23-year-old sits in the world-football
hierarchy, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester
Evening News :
There aren’t many who would argue that Pogba
doesn't belong in that category. Brutishly strong,
quick across the ground and technically gifted,
the former Juventus man has the attributes to be
a one-man midfield at his best. It’s why, despite
the extortionate sum, so many consider the
capture a coup for the Red Devils.
Indeed, Pogba has the natural gifts to become
one of the finest footballers of his generation.
However, given the position he plays in, Mourinho
is unsure whether the midfielder will ever be
revered as such.
“You don't give a golden ball to a goalkeeper, you
give it to [Fabio] Cannavaro once, because in that
season he was the captain of Italy, the world
champions, not many top players,” he said.
“[Paolo] Maldini never got a golden ball, [Javier]
Zanetti never got a golden ball, top goalkeepers
over history didn't get a gold ball, so you look
immediately to the ones that score a lot of goals.”
The Ballon d’Or, awarded annually to the finest
individual player in the world, has been dominated
by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid ’s
Cristiano Ronaldo in recent seasons. The latter is
expected to win the next edition, too, having
clinched the UEFA Champions League with his
club and the UEFA European Championship with
Portugal.
Pogba faces a fight to usurp that illustrious duo,
but time is still on his side. Ronaldo was the
same age as the Frenchman when he won the
gong for the first time in 2008, while Messi was a
year younger in 2009 . With both of those men
approaching the twilight of their careers, the
United midfielder could muscle in.
The former Juventus star was included in
the FIFPro Team of the Year at the previous Ballon
d’Or ceremony. He finished 15th overall in the
voting for the individual award earlier this year.
At United, there will be more focus on the
midfielder, and that in itself brings more
recognition. Replicating these extraordinary
numbers from Serie A in the Premier League
would be a major achievement, too, per OptaJoe:
15-16 - Paul Pogba's stats for Juventus
in 2015-16 (all comps):
49 Apps
10 Goals
15 Assists
79 Chances Created
Marquee. #Pogback
7:10 AM - 9 Aug 2016
423 265
OptaJoe
@OptaJoe Follow
Is Pogba currently the best central midfielder
in the world?
Yes
No
vote to see results
What would potentially count in Pogba’s favour is
the manner in which he plays the game. While he
may not hammer in 30 goals a season, he’s a
footballer who produces captivating moments that
set social media ablaze around the world. That
quality will elevate his standing should he keep
conjuring it in the Premier League.
If Pogba’s not the best midfielder in the world yet,
Mourinho will hope to make him that at Old
Trafford. While there are flaws in the Frenchman’s
game, if his inherent talents are harnessed in the
right way he’ll be in contention for the biggest
individual awards for many years to come.
" Can Paul score the same number of
goals as [ Cristiano ] Ronaldo and
[ Lionel ] Messi? Not even 25 per cent ,
I believe .
I believe in a season he can 't score 20
goals . So if to be the best player in
the world means to score a lot of
goals , that' s not the point . But he 's
one of the best midfield players ,
maybe I could say the best in the
world.
There aren’t many who would argue that Pogba
doesn't belong in that category. Brutishly strong,
quick across the ground and technically gifted,
the former Juventus man has the attributes to be
a one-man midfield at his best. It’s why, despite
the extortionate sum, so many consider the
capture a coup for the Red Devils.
Indeed, Pogba has the natural gifts to become
one of the finest footballers of his generation.
However, given the position he plays in, Mourinho
is unsure whether the midfielder will ever be
revered as such.
“You don't give a golden ball to a goalkeeper, you
give it to [Fabio] Cannavaro once, because in that
season he was the captain of Italy, the world
champions, not many top players,” he said.
“[Paolo] Maldini never got a golden ball, [Javier]
Zanetti never got a golden ball, top goalkeepers
over history didn't get a gold ball, so you look
immediately to the ones that score a lot of goals."
talked up new signing Paul Pogba ahead of his
second Red Devils debut, suggesting the
Frenchman could be the finest midfielder on the
planet.
After leaving Old Trafford for Juventus four years
ago, Pogba returned to the club this summer for a
world-record transfer fee and is set to make his
first appearance of the campaign against
Southampton on Friday.
On the cusp of the game, Mourinho spoke about
where the 23-year-old sits in the world-football
hierarchy, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester
Evening News :
There aren’t many who would argue that Pogba
doesn't belong in that category. Brutishly strong,
quick across the ground and technically gifted,
the former Juventus man has the attributes to be
a one-man midfield at his best. It’s why, despite
the extortionate sum, so many consider the
capture a coup for the Red Devils.
Indeed, Pogba has the natural gifts to become
one of the finest footballers of his generation.
However, given the position he plays in, Mourinho
is unsure whether the midfielder will ever be
revered as such.
“You don't give a golden ball to a goalkeeper, you
give it to [Fabio] Cannavaro once, because in that
season he was the captain of Italy, the world
champions, not many top players,” he said.
“[Paolo] Maldini never got a golden ball, [Javier]
Zanetti never got a golden ball, top goalkeepers
over history didn't get a gold ball, so you look
immediately to the ones that score a lot of goals.”
The Ballon d’Or, awarded annually to the finest
individual player in the world, has been dominated
by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid ’s
Cristiano Ronaldo in recent seasons. The latter is
expected to win the next edition, too, having
clinched the UEFA Champions League with his
club and the UEFA European Championship with
Portugal.
Pogba faces a fight to usurp that illustrious duo,
but time is still on his side. Ronaldo was the
same age as the Frenchman when he won the
gong for the first time in 2008, while Messi was a
year younger in 2009 . With both of those men
approaching the twilight of their careers, the
United midfielder could muscle in.
The former Juventus star was included in
the FIFPro Team of the Year at the previous Ballon
d’Or ceremony. He finished 15th overall in the
voting for the individual award earlier this year.
At United, there will be more focus on the
midfielder, and that in itself brings more
recognition. Replicating these extraordinary
numbers from Serie A in the Premier League
would be a major achievement, too, per OptaJoe:
15-16 - Paul Pogba's stats for Juventus
in 2015-16 (all comps):
49 Apps
10 Goals
15 Assists
79 Chances Created
Marquee. #Pogback
7:10 AM - 9 Aug 2016
423 265
OptaJoe
@OptaJoe Follow
Is Pogba currently the best central midfielder
in the world?
Yes
No
vote to see results
What would potentially count in Pogba’s favour is
the manner in which he plays the game. While he
may not hammer in 30 goals a season, he’s a
footballer who produces captivating moments that
set social media ablaze around the world. That
quality will elevate his standing should he keep
conjuring it in the Premier League.
If Pogba’s not the best midfielder in the world yet,
Mourinho will hope to make him that at Old
Trafford. While there are flaws in the Frenchman’s
game, if his inherent talents are harnessed in the
right way he’ll be in contention for the biggest
individual awards for many years to come.
" Can Paul score the same number of
goals as [ Cristiano ] Ronaldo and
[ Lionel ] Messi? Not even 25 per cent ,
I believe .
I believe in a season he can 't score 20
goals . So if to be the best player in
the world means to score a lot of
goals , that' s not the point . But he 's
one of the best midfield players ,
maybe I could say the best in the
world.
There aren’t many who would argue that Pogba
doesn't belong in that category. Brutishly strong,
quick across the ground and technically gifted,
the former Juventus man has the attributes to be
a one-man midfield at his best. It’s why, despite
the extortionate sum, so many consider the
capture a coup for the Red Devils.
Indeed, Pogba has the natural gifts to become
one of the finest footballers of his generation.
However, given the position he plays in, Mourinho
is unsure whether the midfielder will ever be
revered as such.
“You don't give a golden ball to a goalkeeper, you
give it to [Fabio] Cannavaro once, because in that
season he was the captain of Italy, the world
champions, not many top players,” he said.
“[Paolo] Maldini never got a golden ball, [Javier]
Zanetti never got a golden ball, top goalkeepers
over history didn't get a gold ball, so you look
immediately to the ones that score a lot of goals."
 |
The Ballon d’Or, awarded annually to the finest
individual player in the world, has been dominated
by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid ’s
Cristiano Ronaldo in recent seasons. The latter is
expected to win the next edition, too, having
clinched the UEFA Champions League with his
club and the UEFA European Championship with
Portugal.
Pogba faces a fight to usurp that illustrious duo,
but time is still on his side. Ronaldo was the
same age as the Frenchman when he won the
gong for the first time in 2008, while Messi was a
year younger in 2009 . With both of those men
approaching the twilight of their careers, the
United midfielder could muscle in.
