MANCHESTER UNITED’S RECORD signing Paul Pogba has the potential to make his massive price tag look cheap, according to the club’s former defender Gary Neville.
Jose Mourinho’s side smashed the transfer record to bring the France international back to Old Trafford on a five-year deal for a fee worth an initial £89.5m.
However, Neville is not surprised to see the Red Devils splash out on the midfielder and says he has the potential to more than live up to his price tag.
“Manchester United have always broken transfer records for players who are of a certain age, just below their peak. Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney spring to mind,” said Neville, according to the Sunday People.
“But they are getting back to that blueprint with Pogba. He is two or three years short of his peak, but he is a profile signing the club would normally make.
“Now, to expect him to be like Bryan Robson or Keane would be placing far too much expectation upon him. But if Pogba gets anywhere near those levels – those of Robson and Keane – in five or six years’ time, he will be looked upon as cheap.
“That’s just how Ferdinand and Rooney are considered. Look at Rio. At the time everyone went, ‘£30m for a centre-back… wow!’”
Pogba will miss United’s opening game of the season against Bournemouth due to suspension but Neville admits there will be huge expectation on his shoulders when he does get going in red.
“For £89m, Pogba will be expected to win big games. He has to grab games by the scruff of the neck and win big games of football,” he added.
“At Manchester United, you have to win your team big matches. So, Manchester City at home on September 10 [will be], ‘Paul, go and win us the match’. Because that’s what Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and David Silva have all been doing for City.
“That’s not me demanding him to do it. But those are the types of games that he has to influence.”
