Paul Pogba risks angering Cristiano Ronaldo as he snubs ex-Man Utd team-mate

Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba says he would take Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo ‘every day’ if he needed a player capable of doing more than scoring goals.

Pogba recently appeared on a livestream with internet personality iShowSpeed, during which he was quizzed on his preference between this generation’s two standout players.

The World Cup winner shared a dressing room with Ronaldo at United during the 2021/22 season. But that, combined with the Portuguese’s five Ballon d’Or wins and the fact Pogba has never played in the same team as Messi, was not enough to sway the Frenchman towards CR7.

“You love Cristiano,” Pogba said to Speed. “Some people love Messi because, bro… do you see what he is doing? Messi is different. How can a person so small do this to people?”

Later in the livestream, Pogba was asked explicitly which player he would choose. And though he remained diplomatic towards ex-Red Devil Ronaldo, the 31-year-old made it clear enough that his loyalties lie with Messi.

“For me it’s not Ronaldo or Messi, stop this bull****, bro,” he said. “Who do I prefer? If I have to make a team and I need to score goals, I will take Cristiano. Only to score goals. But if I need a playmaker who can score goals and make assists, I’ll take Messi every day.”

Since leaving United, Pogba’s career has been blighted by injuries and a doping suspension. He played six league games in his first season back at Juventus, and then just 161 minutes across all competitions in his second campaign.

Pogba’s return to Turin had been accompanied by huge excitement after his electric first spell with Juve landed him a world-record move to Old Trafford. His underwhelming second stint went from bad to catastrophic when he received a four-year ban from the Italian Anti-Doping National Tribunal after failing a drugs test.

The punishment was successfully appealed and reduced to 18 months, meaning Pogba can return to training in January and resume playing in March. Talks are reportedly taking place over the termination of Pogba’s Juventus contract, and Marseille are rumoured to be weighing up a January move for the midfielder.

“I’m still under contract so [the links are] not credible,” Pogba told L’Equipe last month. “We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Why not play in Ligue 1? I don’t have to say no.”