Paul Pogba Is Proving to Be Worth His Record Transfer Fee at Manchester United

In the immediate aftermath of Manchester United’s opening goal in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace last week, their players all gathered around the towering figures of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to celebrate. 

Amid the hugs and pats on the back, they wanted to pay homage to the pair who had just combined to give United the lead.

Even Wayne Rooney, still the nominal captain, could be seen on the outside of this huddle, desperately trying to get involved in the adulation, as if he was a mere autograph hunter.

It was an emblematic moment of the shift in power that has taken place at Old Trafford this season.

While Ibrahimovic is making a clear impact, he is 35 and will soon be gone, this is quickly becoming the 23-year-old Pogba’s team.

With every game, the France international’s influence is growing, and the team is being moulded around him and to his considerable strengths and qualities.

The former Juventus man dominated the win against Palace, scoring that opening goal before providing a wonderful assist for Ibrahimovic’s late winner.

He was crucially at the heart of everything United did at Selhurst Park, having the most touches and passes, constantly demanding the ball, always moving and always probing for a way through the Palace defence.

Four days later, he was again the quiet authority behind United’s commanding 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion.

Pogba strode across the pitch at the Hawthorns—once more having the most touches and passes of any player—and started the move for United’s opening goal with a brilliant cross-field pass. 

As Bryan Robson drove United in the 1980s and Roy Keane fulfilled the same role in the 1990s and into to the new millennium, Pogba has now become the inspiration behind this current United side.

It might be heresy to even suggest it, but Pogba has the physique and ability to become a better player than both of the former United captains. 

Pogba has Keane and Robson’s drive, but he also has greater creativity and more finesse on the ball, being able to open up defences with a clever through ball, and he possesses a better shot from distance.

As an admiring Ander Herrera said, per Press …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com