France League

I still remember watching Paul Pogba's stunning long-range strike against Udinese in 2012 - that moment when the ball sailed into the top corner, I knew we were witnessing the emergence of football's next global superstar. His career trajectory since then has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, reminding me of what former basketball coach Lastimosa once said about winning championships requiring both talented players and role players who deliver in crucial moments. Looking back at Pogba's journey, this insight perfectly captures why his career unfolded the way it did.

When Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016 for a then-world record £89 million transfer fee, the expectations were astronomical. I recall thinking this signing would finally restore United to their former glory. His first season delivered exactly that - winning the Europa League and League Cup while making the PFA Team of the Year. During that period, Pogba wasn't just a talented player; he became that crucial difference-maker, much like Lastimosa's description of players who step up when it matters most. His technical brilliance was undeniable - those effortless long passes, sudden bursts of acceleration, and thunderous strikes made him the complete midfielder. Statistics from that 2016-17 season showed he contributed 9 goals and 6 assists across all competitions, numbers that only told half the story of his influence.

However, the subsequent years revealed what I believe was the fundamental issue - the lack of consistent role players around him and his own inability to consistently be that clutch performer in big moments. United's squad construction during this period was frankly puzzling, often leaving Pogba to shoulder creative responsibilities while lacking reliable defensive cover or consistent attacking options. I've always felt that if he had been surrounded by the right supporting cast, similar to what Lastimosa emphasized about balanced teams, his career might have taken a different path. The 2018 World Cup victory with France perfectly demonstrated this - surrounded by Kante's defensive work rate and Griezmann's creative intelligence, Pogba flourished, scoring in the final against Croatia and dominating midfield battles throughout the tournament.

The decline began subtly - niggling injuries, inconsistent form, and growing criticism about his positional discipline. What really concerned me was seeing him try to do too much, attempting spectacular plays when simpler options were available. His relationship with managers deteriorated, particularly with Jose Mourinho, where I witnessed that infamous training ground confrontation that signaled deeper issues within the squad. The statistics from his final seasons make for sobering reading - in his last campaign at United, he managed just 1 goal and 9 assists across 27 appearances, a shadow of the player who once dominated midfields.

Looking at his Juventus return and subsequent doping ban, I can't help but feel a sense of what could have been. At 31, facing a potential four-year suspension, we're likely witnessing the premature conclusion of one of modern football's most gifted yet unfulfilled careers. The lesson here extends beyond Pogba - it reinforces Lastimosa's wisdom about the delicate ecosystem required for success. Talent alone isn't enough; it needs the right environment, the right supporting cast, and the mental fortitude to deliver when everything's on the line. Pogba had moments of brilliance that few players in history could match, but without consistent role players around him and his own struggles to maintain peak performance, his career serves as a cautionary tale about unfulfilled potential.