Paul Pogba’s blockbuster return to Manchester United has captured the imagination of the world, including Jamie Carragher, who believes football’s most expensive player can lead the sleeping English giants back to the Premier League summit.
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This was the new Man United at work: Breaking the world transfer record; announcing the signing after midnight local time to suit foreign audiences; a series of glitzy videos included one with a grime artist where Pogba produces some impressive dance moves.
While Mourinho feels the “unbelievable” Pogba “has everything”, he has stressed it may take time before the 23-year-old France global is fully firing in the United side and has vowed to “protect” him if needed.
On Sunday, with Pogba given permission to undergo a medical, United manager Jose Mourinho said he felt the 23-year-old was coming to the “perfect” place for him to surpass Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the game’s preeminent player.
“Paul told me before he left that he wanted to be the best player in the world”, added Ferdinand, who made 453 appearances for United after a British record £30m transfer from Leeds in 2002.
“I spoke with him a few times, and he gave me energy and positivity, and so I thought “why not”.
“When I heard some of the comments and heard some of the managers criticizing that, I don’t think they ever have this problem because, to have this problem, you need to be at one of the top clubs in the world”, Mourinho said.
The enigmatic former Paris Saint-Germain star has instantly endeared himself to the United faithful with a scissor-kick volley in the 5-2 friendly victory over Galatasaray before heading the victor in Sunday’s 2-1 Community Shield triumph over Premier League champions Leicester City.
“That will come with time hopefully, but first the Premier League – I’ve never done it”.
Since leaving United in 2012, Pogba has helped Juve win four Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia twice, and reach the 2014-15 Champions League final.
Mourinho also had a message for managers like Arsene Wenger and Juergen Klopp of Liverpool, who have suggested United was paying too much for Pogba. “I’ve come back home”. “I just went for a holiday”, Pogba said.
“But this group of 23 is a great group and I think in this moment – and I told them this – there is a little bit of frustration for the ones that I have not selected”.
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“I wouldn’t be happy with just finishing in the top four”. There are things that when I do (them) are not ethical, and when others do it everything is normal.
