Former Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness has launched a scathing attack on former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, accusing him of wasting his career after receiving a four-year suspension for violating doping rules.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the former Liverpool player didn’t hold back, stating, “For me, there was never any doubt about Pogba’s ability. What I saw in him was a player with great technical ability and physique who had the potential to be one of the best midfield players our sport had ever known.
” However, Souness expressed frustration with Pogba’s perceived lack of honesty and effort, labeling him as lazy. Souness continued to criticize Pogba’s trajectory, attributing his downfall to a lack of commitment following France’s World Cup victory in 2018.
He lamented, “Instead, he wasted his career. Having won the World Cup with France in Russia, in 2018, he allowed himself to get into his armchair and was never fully committed to the cause of being a team player.”
The pundit emphasized his disappointment in seeing Pogba’s potential go unfulfilled, stating, “I criticised him to such a substantial degree – and take no satisfaction from saying I was proved right – because I could see that huge potential. I saw the kind of player he could become.”
Pogba’s recent doping violation, resulting in a four-year ban, has further fueled Souness’s criticisms. Despite Pogba’s insistence on innocence and plans to appeal the decision, Souness remains steadfast in his assessment.
The feud between Souness and Pogba dates back to the midfielder’s time at Manchester United, with the pundit frequently expressing his disapproval of Pogba’s performances.
