Price tag woes set to disappear for Pogba
JOSE MOURINHO has given his full backing to Paul Pogba, with the Manchester United boss certain his big-money star is on his way to becoming an Old Trafford icon.
The Frenchman became the world’s most-expensive footballer when he was signed for £89-million from Juventus last summer. And that huge price tag brings sky-high expectations.
Mourinho insists that because of such scrutiny, Pogba has not always been judged fairly.
Yet the Portuguese is really happy with how his big signing is adapting to his role as the heartbeat of the team.
With Pogba at the centre of things, United are still on course to win three trophies as they head to Blackburn for this afternoon’s FA Cup fifth-round tie.
The 23-year-old midfielder has scored seven times, hit the woodwork on eight more occasions and played a key role as the Reds have lost just one of their last 23 matches.
“Paul has phenomenal attributes. But I think the scrutiny on him is hard,” argues Mourinho.
“When he plays very, very well – which he does many times – many people think that is normal.
“But when he has a game when he is not so happy and he doesn’t perform so well, pundits, and even supporters, go strong on him.
“But that’s the price of being who he is and the size of his transfer fee.
“I am pretty sure that next summer, some players with only half his quality will probably cost the same money or more.
“I am waiting for that moment to release him from the scrutiny. But I am really happy with his football and his happiness to play because the most important thing for him is not to lose that happiness.
“I see his influence on the team and I am really happy with what he did, for example, against Leicester and Watford.
“People didn’t see him so much in dangerous areas. But he gave us an incredible balance, recovering the ball, starting the build-up from the back impressively. And at the top of the pitch he is a guy who can score goals.
“Imagine the eight posts had been goals and he would have an amazing record. So he’s going stepby-step but he’s still young and he can be fantastic.”
Mourinho is amazed at how transfer values have sky rocketed in the last few years, seemingly beyond logic.
He expects that to keep going the same way and doesn’t think it will be long before Pogba’s record is broken.
“In a couple of years you’ll realise he was cheap,” he reasons.
“But I have to admit that not many clubs can anticipate what can happen in the near future.
“A few years ago, £25m was a phenomenal player. Now £25m is not even a player, it’s the prospect of a player.
“Now if you want to buy a good prospect, a good 20-year-old who can be fantastic – and I say the word ‘can’ – you are paying without the can.
“Next summer can bring a few surprises at this level and Paul will probably lose his status as the world’s most-expensive player.
“That will probably be a good thing.”