John Obi Mikel tips Manchester United player to win the Ballon d'Or
Paul Pogba's world-record £89 million arrival at Manchester United this summer has yet to be met with performances of a similar magnitude.
But while the Old Trafford faithful may be getting a little concerned with how the France
international has underperformed, since his arrival from Juventus in the summer, there are certainly still plenty of admirers for the midfielder.
One of them is Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. The Nigeria internationally fondly remembers the time he nutmegged the Frenchman at the 2014 World Cup.
But despite Pogba having yet to prove to Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho what he is truly capable of,
Mikel has backed the 23-year-old to return to the form he displayed during his time in Serie A. "I
met Pogba after the game against France and he is a lovely guy," Mikel told Goal
He is a lovely human being. Today he is the world’s most expensive football player and he has worked hard since he left Man United and went to Juve.
He had a great, great career back at Juventus." It's been a whirlwind early part of Pogba's career to date; with the Frenchman having left Old Trafford after making only a handful of appearances - after graduating through the club's academy - for a new life in Italy, only to return a few years later.
MIKEL BACKING POGBA But it has been the Frenchman's performances in Serie A that have
earned Pogba the title as one of the world's best young midfielders. And despite those types of
performances yet to be replicated in Manchester, Mikel is backing the United man to, one day, win football's biggest personal accolade.
Mikel and Pogba could meet again on Sunday, when Mourinho's United face his former club Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge. However, Mikel has yet to feature for Antonio Conte, since his arrival in the summer.
And the Nigeria international is wary that, one day, his midfield battle with Pogba may result in the Frenchman trying to get his own back. Pogba was victim of an audacious backheeled nutmeg from Mikel in the last-16 of 2014 World Cup between France and Nigeria.
However, the Frenchman's side ran out 2-0 winners, and he will hope he gets the right result again this weekend.
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