Graeme Souness has launched one other assault on Paul Pogba, claiming he’s “lacking one thing upstairs” and never price bringing again to the Premier League.
Pogba final week noticed his four-year ban for doping decreased to 18 months on enchantment by the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport, which means he can play once more in March.
It has been reported his present deal at Juventus will probably be ripped up, enabling each events to make a contemporary begin.
The 31-year-old has been linked with a transfer again to England, the place he has had two spells with Manchester United. However Souness, who has had common pops at Pogba all through his profession, stays a critic of the previous France midfielder.
“A wasted expertise”
Talking on William Hill’s Three Up Entrance podcast alongside Simon Jordan and Troy Deeney, Souness stated: “If I used to be a Premier League supervisor, there are not any circumstances below which I’d take a punt on bringing in Paul Pogba. He’s solely performed 39 video games because the 2021/22 season.
“He’s extraordinarily proficient, however he’s a wasted expertise. The worst factor that occurred to him was profitable the World Cup as a result of from that time on he simply sat in his armchair.
“When José Mourinho was at Manchester United, he known as Pogba a virus. He’s a lazy participant, however midfield is a place that it’s a must to take personally.
“It’s the one place on the pitch the place you’re straight up in opposition to somebody who’s attempting to do the identical job as you. I all the time needed to have a greater day than whoever I used to be up in opposition to, and the one factor I used to be taught to do was work tougher than my opponent. Pogba simply goes out to play and exhibit to everybody how cute and intelligent he’s, quite than attempting to make his opponent have a depressing day. He’s received all the power and athleticism you want; he’s simply lacking one thing upstairs.”
⌛️ pic.twitter.com/yx3FKbTfB2
— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) October 4, 2024
Souness, who was a fearsome midfielder for Liverpool earlier than turning to punditry, has beforehand labelled Pogba a “pudding”, a “divisive character” and “an absolute doddle to play in opposition to”.
Deeney questions Pogba’s ego
Deeney, who confronted Pogba throughout his time at Watford, additionally felt Pogba’s angle would maintain him again as he tries to rebuild his profession.
He stated: “I nonetheless suppose Paul Pogba is proficient sufficient. However is he nonetheless enticing from a enterprise perspective? I performed in opposition to him 4 or 5 occasions and it was like soccer was too straightforward for him. He didn’t need to strive. That basically infuriated me, and it infuriates me in folks normally, however he’s so proficient. He’s 6ft 4in, he can transfer, he can do all the pieces.
“I hope he can get again to enjoying. I’d query his ego as to the place he finally ends up enjoying, as a result of I’m unsure his ego will enable him to drop to a decrease Premier League staff, like Leicester for instance.”
