Paul Pogba has hailed the potential of reported Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham.
The French midfielder, who is now with Juventus, was asked to name his midfield inspirations by The Muslim Money Guys on YouTube.
Pogba reeled off a list of superb players, including Liverpool’s very own Thiago Alcantara.
“I look at Toni Kroos, Verratti, Thiago Alcantara. Because they’re not six’s, they’re not holding midfielders, they’re not number tens. They’re box-to-box midfielders. They are the ones that make the game, that can make assists, that can score. I think Modric is a bit higher [up the pitch] than me also,” said the 29-year-old.
The former Manchester United man went on to mention Bellingham as one to watch for the future.
“Right now, what I see is Bellingham, those players. Kevin De Bruyne I think is a bit higher, he plays behind the striker. Bellingham has just started but he’s doing very good. I think he will get to a very top level,” Pogba predicted. “But De Bruyne has been there for a long time. Verratti, Thiago, Toni Kroos, Modric, those players have been there for a long time. Xavi and Iniesta were there for a long time. Those players, I learn from them.”
Bellingham the box-to-box dream for Liverpool
Okay, we know he isn’t currently a Liverpool player. But still, given the level of interest that the Reds have in bringing Bellingham to Anfield, this is all interesting news.
Pogba, despite his controversies, is an excellent midfielder. It’s a relief to be able to say that now that he’s no longer a United player.
It’s a shame that we won’t get to see him at this World Cup, as he continues to recover from injury.
The point is that the Frenchman knows how to play that box-to-box midfield role exceptionally. He didn’t always show it in England, but on his day he’s unplayable.
For him to see something of his own game in Bellingham’s means the youngster is doing something very right.
On Jude’s part, he would be wise to take the best bits of Pogba’s game and try to infuse them into his own.
Liverpool reportedly see the 19-year-old as the perfect box-to-box option for them. It’s interesting that Pogba also mentions Thiago as box-to-box, as this isn’t something you’d necessarily relate to the Spaniard. But should he come to Anfield, Thiago could be the absolute perfect mentor.
So too could Jordan Henderson. More of a natural midfielder runner than Thiago, the skipper could help show Jude how to reach the levels of the other names on Pogba’s list.
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