Paul Pogba names the Man Utd youngster ‘like Neymar’ he challenged to a fight

Paul Pogba has named former Manchester United starlet Ravel Morrison as the ‘best player of his generation’, insisting he was at Neymar’s level as a young talent.

Pogba had two spells at United, first joining the club in 2009 as a 16-year-old before returning in 2016 in what still stands as the club’s record transfer fee. The France international left on a free transfer for a second time in 2022.

During that first spell in Manchester, Pogba was part of the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2011, playing alongside future first-team pal Jesse Lingard and with current Premier League stars Sam Johnstone and Will Keane.

Even with Pogba’s immense potential in mind, Morrison was the jewel in the crown of that side, regarded as United’s next homegrown superstar.

While Morrison’s career did not reach those heights – leaving United in 2012 after just three senior appearances – Pogba has recalled his unbelievable talent, similar to that of Neymar when his rise began at Brazilian side Santos.

Pogba told the Daily Mail: ‘Let me tell you, Ravel is the best player of my generation that I have seen. No doubt. I saw stuff Neymar was doing at Santos – Ravel was doing that.’

While the two have stayed in contact and remained friends since their careers veered off in separate directions, Pogba revealed the moment the two almost came to blows on the training pitch.

‘So I arrived from France and Rav is already the biggest star. He was the boss,’ Pogba said.

‘We were training just a few weeks after I arrived but I played tough. I took the ball from him. Rav was making a fool of everyone with his dribbling because he is so good, so I took the ball off him strongly and played. Then he kicked me, I turned round and didn’t say anything. We play again.

‘I smash him and we start to argue. We are head-to-head – so I say “let’s go to the changing room I’m ready”. In Paris this is normal! So we got to the dressing room and I’m getting ready.

‘But he just comes over and shakes my hand. Since that day he has been my guy. We are still talking.

‘He was one of the guys who sent me a message when he saw the news [about Pogba’s doping ban being reduced], he was so happy for me. Rav was the biggest talent of our generation. I don’t want to say I feel sorry (for his career) because you always want to see someone with big talent do good.

‘But as players we have to take responsibility too and he knows it. He realises if he had a chance to do it again he would do it differently.’