Patrick Vieira: Paul Pogba more talented than I was

More talented than Patrick Vieira?

Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira believes that Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is “certainly more talented” than Vieira was. Pogba left Manchester United for Italy in 2012 due to a lack of first team opportunities at the club, but Vieira, who currently works at United’s neighbour’s Manchester City, told Tuttosport that his compatriot is more talented than he was in his prime.

“Compared to me, Pogba is more attacking, whereas I was more defensively-minded,” opened the former Arsenal man.

“He pushes forward more and therefore scores more goals. He is also better on a technical level and is certainly more talented than I was.

“He is a player capable of scoring 10 to 15 goals every year. In a three-man midfield I think it suits his style of football.”

Pogba has made 25 Serie A appearances for Juventus this season, scoring six goals in a box to box central midfield role. Vieira’s quotes may well touch a nerve with United fans, who have seen successive managers struggle to replace the midfield of the famous class of 94.

United are set to invest heavily in their midfield in order to rectify a position that has been the club’s Achilles heel in recent years and has been a large contributing factor to their poor run of form this season, and allowing Pogba to leave the club looks to be a costly mistake for last season’s Premier League champions