Jose Mourinho Talks Paul Pogba Ahead of Manchester United Return vs. Southampton

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:

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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.

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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.

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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:

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.