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Ever since the departure of Jose Mourinho from Manchester United, Paul Pogba is playing with a different zeal altogether. The charismatic Frenchman is playing with extreme confidence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. There is an unmatched oomph about him now which is making his fans go gaga.
The playmaker began his youth career with Le Havre and was roped in by The Red Devils in 2009. However, limited playing time eventually led him to join Serie A club Juventus in 2012.
The midfielder had a brilliant run in Italy and was pivotal in helping his side win 4 consecutive league titles. Pogboom, as he is popularly known, made a return to Manchester United in 2016 for a then-record transfer fee of €105 million.
The 25-year-old could not bring out his best and there were regular confrontations with manager Mourinho. However, there is a new energy and dynamism Pogba is bringing to the field since the arrival of Ole as manager.
He already has 4 goals and 3 assists in the 3 matches he has played under Ole. Having won the FIFA World Cup with France in 2018, there is no stopping Pogba and he is sure to unleash his best in the upcoming games in 2019.
Over the years, the French footballer has played with many legendary players. In this article, we aim to form the playing XI taking 10 of the best players the playmaker has played with in his career.
It is ideally a playing XI formed by current and ex-Juventus and Manchester United players.
Also see : Fantasy Premier League , Fantasy Premier League Tips, Intercontinental cup schedule
Goalkeeper (Gianluigi Buffon)
Gianluigi Buffon will be our choice of goalkeeper. The 40-year-old is one of the greatest of all time and he spent the majority of his career with Juventus.
The veteran goalkeeper even compared Pogba with Zinedine Zidane and held high regards and praise for him for the efforts he put on the field. The custodian made an overall of 656 appearances for Juventus in the 17 seasons he was with them.
The potent shot-stopper moved to Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the 2018–19 season and has made 13 appearances for the French giants. Buffon was also an integral part of Italy's national team.
David de Gea, Manchester United's current goalkeeper, is also a brilliant talent but Buffon has been picked in the XI due to his sheer wealth of experience at the highest level.
Defenders (Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini)
Paul Pogba played a few matches with Patrice Evra during the 2011-12 season and many more during his time at Juventus. The 37-year-old has also served as the captain of Manchester United. He will be the left-back in the playing XI.
Evra is the only player Pogba has played with at both United and Juventus as well as the national team. 379 appearances for The Red Devils in 9 seasons and 82 appearances for Juventus in 3 seasons made Evra one of the best in the business. The French player last played for West Ham United and is currently without a club.
Antonio Valencia will be our choice for the Right Back position. The Ecuadorian international has been an integral part of Manchester United since 2009 and made over 300 appearances for The Red Devils. The 33-year-old also has 25 goals to his name for United and serves as the captain whenever he plays.
Villarreal, Recreativo, and Wigan Athletic are a few other clubs Valencia has played for. The defender has won two Premier League titles (2010-11 and 2011-12) and one FA Cup (2015-16) with United.
Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will be the centre-backs in the Paul Pogba XI. Both these players have a phenomenal amount of experience and have spent a majority of their careers playing for Juventus.
Despite being in their 30s, both the players are still regarded as the best in the business in Italy. They are both important parts of the Italian national team as well.
Bonucci has won 6 Serie A titles with Juventus while Chiellini has won 7. Rio Ferdinand is the alternative option for either of the Italian legends.
Midfielders (Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, and Paul Scholes)
Claudio Marchisio is one of the greatest midfielders to ever don the Black and White jersey of Juventus. The adaptive and versatile player won 7 Serie A titles as well as 4 Coppa Italia titles with Juventus.
Pogba's emergence as an unstoppable force in the midfield eventually led to his decline. The 32-year-old currently plays for Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg. The Turin-born player ended his Juventus career with 37 goals from 389 appearances.
Andrea Pirlo is regarded as a genius by many of football's greatest. He spent 4 seasons with Juventus and scored 19 goals in 164 appearances for them. The Flero-born midfielder had the ability to make the ball do whatever he wanted. His pinpoint passing, free-kicks, and vision of the game earned him a lot of praise from around the world.
The Italian playmaker last played for Major League Soccer club New York City. The 39-year-old had a highly decorated career -- winning 6 Serie A titles (2 with Milan and 4 with Juventus), 2 Coppa Italia titles (1 each with Milan and Juventus), and two UEFA Champions League titles (both with Milan).
Paul Pogba also had the opportunity to play with United legend Paul Scholes during the 2011-12 season. The technically renowned midfielder has the all-time third highest appearances for Manchester United after Ryan Giggs and Bobby Charlton.
In his 20 years with The Red Devils, Scholes won 11 Premier League titles besides winning multiple other silverware.
The 44-year-old was highly praised by other legendary players such as Xavier Hernández and Thierry Henry. He played a creative role in the side and could also act as a box-to-box midfielder.
Besides these assets, Scholes was also renowned for his long-range shots and tactical awareness, linking up well with all his fellow players and acting as a pivot in the centre of the park. A true genius of the game.
Michael Carrick and Juan Mata are other legendary midfielders Pogba has played with.
Forwards (Paulo Dybala and Wayne Rooney)
Paulo Bruno Exequiel Dybala or simply Dybala is one of the most exciting forwards of the current generation. The creative attacker is known for his close ball control, dribbling ability, balance, and ability to find space. A versatile player, Dybala also has the knack of creating chances for his teammates.
Considered one of the most exciting prospects in modern football, Dybala is currently playing his 4th season with Juventus. The 25-year-old has scored 75 goals in 162 appearances for the Black and Whites and also won 3 Serie A as well as 3 Coppa Italia titles.
Manchester United's all-time top goalscorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances, Wayne Rooney forms the final cog in the Paul Pogba XI. In his 13 seasons with The Red Devils, Rooney won 5 Premier League titles.
The energetic forward had the ability to play anywhere in the final 3rd and was an accurate finisher. His dedication and high work rate also earned him a lot of praise as he always seemed eager to press defenders hard and win the ball back for the team.
The 33-year-old is also the all-time top goalscorer for England. He is currently playing for Major League Soccer club D.C. United.
Carlos Tevez, Anthony Martial, and Marcus Rashford are other impressive forwards Pogboom has played (and is still playing) with.
Which other player do you think could be part of Paul Pogba XI? Do share your opinions in the comments section below.
