Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has made a bold claim regarding the career of his former teammate, Bruno Fernandes. Pogba believes the Portuguese international would be a top contender for the Ballon d’Or if he played for Manchester City.
The French star argued that Fernandes is currently being held back by the lack of silverware at Old Trafford. He suggested that the player’s individual brilliance is often overlooked because the team is not winning major trophies.
Individual brilliance overshadowed by lack of titles
Since Fernandes joined the Red Devils in 2020, their cross-town rivals have dominated the Premier League. Pogba noted that the narrative in football is heavily influenced by the success of the collective team.
“If you put him in City, he is in the Ballon d’Or top three,” Pogba stated during a podcast appearance. He maintained that the midfielder’s statistics are world-class, but the football world ignores them when the club fails to win.
Comparing Manchester City and United statistics
Pogba questioned whether Fernandes could realistically do more than he is already doing for his current club. He pointed out that playing in a winning system like that of Pep Guardiola elevates an individual’s standing in global rankings.
For Pogba, the difference between being a top-three candidate and being ignored is simply the quality of the team surrounding the player. While Fernandes continues to deliver high numbers, his lack of a Premier League medal remains a sticking point for voters.
