Limping off late on against Burnley after playing around 400 minutes of professional football in the space of a week, Paul Pogba is slowly growing into his new role at Manchester United.
Less flashy than he was at Juventus, the 24-year-old midfielder constantly has to try and live up to his ridiculous price tag, something he has no control over, with the media relentlessly on his back because he doesn’t score a 35-yard rabona screamer every single game.
Asked mostly to recuperate the ball and drive the team forward, Pogba is still learning, and, according to Nicolas Anelka, is only going to go from strength to strength over the coming years, as other players inherit his pressures.
Speaking to Le Journal Du Dimanche in a lengthy interview about his latest job as consultant to Dutch side Roda JC, the former Juventus striker, who spent six months with Pogba at the Serie A champions, was asked about his former teammate.
He said: “He struggled a bit at Manchester United at first because his environment changed, but also his status. However, he’s managing the situation intelligently even though it’s not easy. Like I imagined it three years ago, Paul is one of the best in the world.
“Next year, he’ll be even better, an even more the year after that. There will have been other €100m+ transfers, and he’ll be left alone. Only then will he be able to truly show off his skills. For now, he’s at 70% of his potential. When he reaches 100%, he’ll be unstoppable.”
Crucial in Manchester United’s second goal on Sunday afternoon, Paul Pogba has scored seven goals and assists teammate five times in 47 appearances in all competitions this season.
