Is Pogba really worth £100 million? Football has been in a frenzy in recent weeks about the possibility of Paul Pogba re-joining Manchester United for a world-record £100 million.
His return to Manchester will no doubt cut bookmakers’ odds on the Old Trafford team winning the EPL title for the first time in three years. As mouth-watering as this might sound to the avid United fan, questions have to be asked whether such an extravagant amount is justified on a single player. Especially as he only displayed flashes of brilliance for France at the Euro 2016 tournament.
Pogba’s talent is undeniable, and his meteoric rise to stardom since he departed Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson’s watch in 2012 will go down as one of the ‘old maestro’s’ biggest faux pas. But is he really worth £100 million? Certainly he will add a much-needed star dust and flair to a United team that was bereft of ideas last year, and the commercial team will squeeze out every little drop of value from his image. On the pitch however, his numbers are not stratospheric. Unlike Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who can carry an entire team on their shoulders and score goals for fun, Pogba has only managed 28 goals in 124 Serie A appearances for the Old Lady of Turin.
And will Jose Mourinho allow him the freedom to express himself on the pitch? The Portuguese tactician is known for his results-driven style of football, which caused a rift between him and Belgian star Eden Hazard last year at Chelsea. Pogba will need to adapt to Mourinho’s philosophy.