The Portuguese has been talking up the France
international ahead of his second Premier League
debut for Manchester United against Southampton at
Old Trafford on Friday
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes
Paul Pogba is the world's best midfielder, but does
not expect the France international to produce
fireworks every week.
Pogba, 23, became the most expensive footballer of
all time when moving to United from Serie A
champions Juventus for £93.8m earlier this month.
All eyes will be on Pogba, who left United to join
Juventus in 2012 before returning this summer, when
he makes his second Premier League debut for the
Red Devils against Southampton on Friday.
However, while big things are expected from Pogba
following his world record transfer, Mourinho insists
he does not believe a huge amount of goals should
be one of them.
"Can Paul score Ronaldo and Messi's goals?"
Mourinho said. "Not even 25 per cent, I believe. I
believe he cannot score 20 goals in a season.
"So if to be the best player in the world means to
score a lot of goals, that's not the point. But he's
one of the best midfield players, maybe I could say
the best midfield player, in the world.
"I'm not worried with an 'impact' and I don't think
he's worried with that. I see him very calm, I see him
very comfortable in this role of a star player and
feeling very well under that skin.
"I don't see him under pressure, I don't see him in
training trying to do things to show that he's
different, to show that he's better.
"I think his impact will be something very natural, a
progressive impact of contribution to improve the
team, because that's what he's here for - to win
trophies.
"I'm not expecting, the first time he touches the ball,
to dribble past five guys and score a wonder goal. I
expect the first time he touches the ball to make a
correct pass, a good selection of passing, a good
choice, a good simple execution and a fluid game.
Mourinho added: "So, maybe it's not an impact,
maybe just a natural improvement of the team,
because he's a super football player.
"When you speak about the best players in the world,
you go immediately to the ones that score a lot of
goals.
"You don't give a golden ball [Ballon d'Or] to a
goalkeeper. You gave it to [defender Fabio]
Cannavaro once, because in that season he was the
captain of Italy, the world champions.
"[Paolo] Maldini never got a gold ball. [Javier] Zanetti
never got a gold ball. Top goalkeepers, over history,
didn't get a gold ball. You look immediately to the
ones that score a lot of goals."
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