Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has praised Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and suggested he could one day join him at Santiago Bernabeu.
Zidane has returned to Madrid for a second spell in charge after an underwhelming season for Madrid in which they have effectively been eliminated from all competitions.
The Frenchman replaces former teammate Santiago Solari, who was promoted to the role of Madrid coach after Julen Lopetegui was dismissed following a poor run of form in October.
Pogba, along with fellow Premier League duo Eden Hazard and Felipe Anderson, are reported targets for Madrid, who are looking to rebuild after suffering their biggest-ever European home defeat when Ajax knocked them out of the Champions League.
Asked about Pogba’s comments ahead of Madrid’s La Liga game with Huesca, Zidane said: “I like Pogba a lot, it’s nothing new.”
“I know him personally. He’s a different kind of player, he brings so much and there are few players who bring as much as he does.
“He’s a midfielder who knows how to defend and how to attack. He knows how to do everything on the pitch.” Zidane added.
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the shackles around Pogba have been broken for now and the Frenchman finds himself a part of a team that attacks in unison. This new look United loves to go forward and this is the strategy that suits Pogba the most.
Zinedine Zidane returns to Real Madrid for second time. (Source:www.dailyexpress.co.uk)
“He [Pogba] is not part of my squad, he plays at United and what he’s said about Real Madrid and his desire to come here,” Zidane said.
“If one day he gets the chance when he wants to leave United….if, when he finishes his experience at United, he wants to come here, why shouldn’t he come to Real Madrid?” he added.
Pogba has scored 13 goals and 10 assisted for United so far. He insisted he remains happy at United ahead of facing Barcelona in the Champions League on his old stomping ground.