The world’s most expensive footballer may prove to be a bargain buy, according to Gary Neville.
There aren’t many things you can buy for €105 million. That kind of capital can buy you a solid gold house, a rocket car and, well, a Paul Pogba.
Despite his lacklustre showing at Euro 2016, Manchester United supporters are hopeful that Pogba will prove to be the superstar his price tag suggests upon his return to the Old Trafford. However, considering that the club have made him the most expensive footballer in the history of the beautiful game, few are calling his signing good value for money.
Paul Pogba = Manchester United jersey for everyone in Equatorial Guinea #pogback https://t.co/whE3geGsEg
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 9, 2016
However, United legend/ pundit Gary Neville believes that the Frenchman could prove to be a bit of a bargain. He told the Sunday People that breaking transfer records isn’t exactly a new thing for the Red Devils and considering how well it’s worked out for them in the past, it’s looking good for Pogba.
“Manchester United have always broken transfer records for players who are of a certain age, just below their peak. Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney spring to mind.”
“But they are getting back to that blueprint with Pogba. He is two or three years short of his peak, but he is a profile signing the club would normally make.”
Neville did admit though that the expectations shouldn’t be astronomically high for Pogba straight off the bat. He feels that Pogba’s real value will be seen when he fully develops in a few years and by then, he believes his record-breaking transfer fee could be considered “cheap”.
“Now, to expect him to be like Bryan Robson or Keane would be placing far too much expectation upon him. But if Pogba gets anywhere near those levels – those of Robson and Keane – in five or six years’ time, he will be looked upon as cheap.”
“That’s just how Ferdinand and Rooney are considered. Look at Rio. At the time everyone went, ‘£30m for a centre-back… wow!’.”
Judging by Neville’s prediction, come 2021, we’ll all be laughing at how much of a bargain Pogba was while Jack Byrne gets snapped up by Juventus for a cut-price fee of €180m.
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