Fernandes Would Win Ballon D'or At Man City - Pogba

ByLorraine McKenna

BBC Sport journalist

Paul Pogba believes Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes would beryllium successful contention to triumph nan Ballon d'Or if he played for a squad for illustration Manchester City.

The erstwhile United midfielder, who had 2 spells astatine nan nine earlier leaving for a 2nd stint astatine Juventus successful 2022, says while Fernandes is simply a "top player", nan Portugal world would summation moreover much plaudits if he was surrounded by amended players.

Fernandes, 31, claimed his 18th Premier League assistance of nan play for Matheus Cunha's extremity successful nan triumph complete Chelsea past play and is 2 short of equalling nan record, jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne pinch 20.

Speaking to nan Rio Ferdinand Presents , externalpodcast, Pogba, 33, said: "Bruno Fernandes, successful different large clubs, is successful nan apical 3 Ballon D'or."

Fernandes was past nominated for nan grant successful 2021 wherever he placed associated 21st pinch Inter Milan guardant Lautaro Martinez.

Frenchman Pogba continued: "Do you deliberation Bruno, if he's successful nan different team, he's not successful nan apical three, a Ballon d'Or player?

"You put him successful [Manchester] City, he's successful nan Ballon d'Or."

Fernandes, who has scored 8 goals this season, was praised for "driving nan dressing room towards a higher level" by United goalkeeper Senne Lammens earlier this week.

His performances this play makes him a contender for nan various subordinate of nan twelvemonth awards and Pogba added: "He's everyplace connected nan pitch.

"He has a volume. He keeps running. He's smart. He tin play 2 touches, 1 touch. He tin shoot."

But he said players needed to triumph trophies pinch large clubs to beryllium considered for nan accolade: "When you don't win, we don't deliberation astir you."

Fernandes joined United successful January 2020 from Portuguese broadside Sporting Lisbon, now Sporting, for £47m and has made 322 appearances for nan club, scoring 106 goals.

He rejected immense offers from Saudi Pro League sides Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad past summertime successful bid to enactment astatine Old Trafford, pinch his statement astatine United moving to 2027, pinch nan action of an further year.

United are 3rd successful nan Premier League table, level connected 58 points pinch fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Pogba became nan world's astir costly player erstwhile he re-joined United from Juventus successful 2016 for £89m.

He had spent 4 years distant from nan nine astatine nan Italian broadside aft emotion his opportunities were constricted nether erstwhile United leader Sir Alex Ferguson.

Given his past experiences astatine United, Pogba said he understands what young players for illustration Kobbie Mainoo, who has been successful talks pinch nan nine complete a statement extension, are going through.

Mainoo, 21, made his United debut successful 2023 and received his first England call-up a twelvemonth later. However, aft a difficult tally nether ex-manager Ruben Amorim, he requested to subordinate Napoli connected indebtedness past summer, which was rejected.

However he is backmost successful nan broadside nether Michael Carrick, and tin person "a awesome profession astatine Manchester United", Pogba says - though nan "talented, talented kid" needs to cognize he is "good pinch nan manager".

But should he still see leaving nan club, for illustration Pogba did arsenic a young subordinate pinch a large early up of him?

"It's really difficult for maine to opportunity he should time off erstwhile he's truthful loved by nan group astatine United," nan Frenchman added.

"Whatever determination he's going to take. I conscionable want to spot this kid play because it's enjoyable to spot him play."

Pogba besides reflected connected his high-profile return to United 10 years ago, saying nan civilization astatine nan nine "was different".

Ferguson's 26-year trophy-laden reign astatine nan nine had travel to an extremity successful 2013 and by nan clip Pogba arrived backmost astatine Old Trafford, Portuguese head Jose Mourinho had conscionable been appointed pursuing nan sacking of Dutchman Louis van Gaal.

Pogba, who won nan Europa League and EFL Cup during his 2nd spell astatine United, noted nan "energy" was different, adding: "When I left, it wasn't for illustration that, you know, for illustration you came to Manchester United pinch nan clear civilization of Manchester United.

"Even nan food, everything wrong was different. I said, it's a spot weird, you know?

"It's not nan aforesaid nine arsenic erstwhile I left."

Pogba signed for Ligue 1 nine Monaco from nan Juventus past summertime and made his long-awaited return to shot successful November aft his four-year doping prohibition was reduced to 19 months by nan Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

"I'm grateful to beryllium backmost and play shot again aft everything that happened," said Pogba. "I spot shot wholly different. I bask myself. I want to enjoy."