Paul Pogba has not lived up to his price tag since his £89 million move from Juventus. Inconsistent and underwhelming are the two words that are used to describe his time at Manchester United.
He is yet to show the form that prompted his boyhood club to bring him back for a then-world record fee. Although he has shown a few flashes of brilliance, it is yet to spill into every game he plays.
This season, he has spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch. The Frenchman has played only once since September because of knee injuries.
But despite the tide seemingly against him, Pogba’s quality is undeniable. He is still the best midfielder at the club and one of the best in the world.
Former teammate, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, recognizes that quality. Ibrahimovic is known to pit himself against the best and he backs himself to beat the best.
That was the motivating factor, when he decided to challenge Pogba to a skills challenge. Pogba was not one to back down from a challenge.
His reply to Ibra’s challenge was a brazen piece of magic.
Pogba picked the ball clean up with his foot and bounced it off the wall behind his back. The resulting volley went clean into the net, and not once did he even look where he was kicking it.
It was a skill that Ibra can only hope of beating. The piece of magic also shows that the injury has not affected Pogba’s control over the ball.
