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Pogba can be like Ronaldo, Messi, says Ibrahimovic

Manchester United’s World Cup winner, Paul Pogba, can be “above the stars” and on a level with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, says former Old Trafford team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Paul Pogba
France's midfielder Paul Pogba controls the ball during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris, on March 19, 2018, as part of the team's preparation for the friendly football matches against Colombia and Russia. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE
AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE

Manchester United’s World Cup winner, Paul Pogba, can be “above the stars” and on a level with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, says former Old Trafford team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic, 36, joined LA Galaxy in March 2018 after 20 months at United.

In an interview with BBC Sport, the former Barcelona, Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan striker also discusses how knee surgery almost ended his career, and why he left United.

And the Swede has advice for Wayne Rooney, who recently joined DC United.
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‘What more do you want from Pogba?’
Pogba scored in the final as France beat Croatia 4-2 to win the World Cup on Sunday.

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The 25-year-old midfielder rejoined United for a then world record £89m in August 2016, but has been criticised by pundits and manager Jose Mourinho and fell out of favour at times during the 2017-18 campaign.

“I think you have the players that are above the stars,” Ibrahimovic told BBC Sport’s Simon Stone in Los Angeles. “I don’t find him there yet. He is a fantastic player and can become the one above the stars.

“He has more to give. He can develop. He can do more. But he is still young.”

Pogba won four Italian league titles at Juventus and lost the 2015 Champions League final to Barcelona, before moving back to Old Trafford, where he has won the Europa League and League Cup.

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