When looking back on his near-decade long spell at Manchester United, there is one player that stands out for Andreas Pereira as the Brazil international singles out the man who’s ‘unbelievable’ talent he felt sure would take the midfielder to the very top of the world game.
As we are almost duty bound to explain at this point, no one ever had any doubts about the raw potential and pure ability of a man who honed his considerable skills alongside Pereira in the feted Carrington academy.
That Paul Pogba‘s story is likely to be remembered not as one of glorious success but as something of a cautionary tale, then, is a rather sorry reminder that – no matter how talented you may be – you still need the right environment and the right support network in which to truly thrive.
Paul Pogba’s Manchester United career a disappointment
“He is an amazing player,” Pereira says on Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five podcast.
“When I first arrived at the club, he was the first one to speak to me and help me. When we were on the training pitch, I was like; ‘I need to get to this level’. It was crazy, man. He was unbelievable.
“(Pogba) was easily the best player I’ve played with by far, from the academy players. He was powerful, skilful, fast, he could score… We were not shocked when he went to the first-team.”
Pogba, of course, would make only a handful of cameo appearances before leaving Old Trafford in controversial circumstances, joining Juventus on a free transfer back in 2012.
The World Cup winner then returned for a club-record £89 million four years later but – rightly or wrongly – became something of a symbol of the mediocrity and the muddled-thinking of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Still only 31, Pogba may have played the last game of professional football in a career which promised so much more. The mercurial midfielder, his second spell at Juventus ruined by injury and off-field issues, was banned for four years after being found guilty of a doping offence (ESPN).
“Everything he’s experienced hurts me a lot. Between physical and personal problems and the issue of doping,” Pogba’s former Juventus team-mate Claudio Marchisio told Diario AS, speaking in similarly wistful terms to Pereira.
“He was one of the teammates who impressed me the most on the field. Injuries did not allow him to have the career he deserved. He could have aimed for the Ballon d’Or.
“I think it was a mistake to return to United,” Marchisio adds. “It didn’t help his development.”
Pogba’s lows and Pereira’s highs
In contrast to Pogba, things are looking up for 28-year-old Pereira. Now at Fulham and back in the Brazil team after six seasons away, the Belgian-born playmaker is reportedly on the radar of Atletico Madrid and scored a first Premier League brace at the 111th time of asking during Sunday’s 2-0 win at West Ham.
“West Ham couldn’t deal with (Pereira) really. He was fantastic playing as a ‘number ten’. He deservedly got Man of the Match,” former Newcastle, Aston Villa and Man City goalkeeper Shay Given told Match of the Day.
“Obviously, some people know him more from Man United. But he’s really stepped up to the plate since going to Fulham. Marco Silva (The Cottagers’ head coach) is bringing the best out of him.”
“Playing between the lines, West Ham could not get hold of him,” Given adds. “James Ward-Prowse had a tough afternoon trying to look after him.
“(Pereira was) always showing, looking to play the ball forward, being super positive. He’s really physically fit. A strong and powerful runner, and a typical Brazilian as well.
“The flicks and tricks come out. It’s nice on the eye.”