Graeme Souness, the former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder, has conceded that Paul Pogba is "one of France's greatest ever talents." This admission comes as Souness, alongside Scottish football figures Charlie Nicholas and Gordon Strachan, participated in a comedy sketch for Paddy Power, where they adopted French allegiances ahead of a match against England.
This marks the fourth time the trio has switched national identities during the tournament to support whichever team is facing England. Previously, they have appeared as supporters of Mexico, Norway, and Argentina.
In the latest installment of the sketch, Souness, adopting the persona of 'Guillaume Sounet,' was questioned about his loyalty to France. To demonstrate his commitment, he offered rare praise for former Manchester United midfielder Pogba, responding with "oui" when asked if Pogba is one of France's greatest ever talents.
Souness has been a vocal critic of Pogba for years, dating back to the midfielder's return to Manchester United in 2016. He has previously described Pogba as "selfish" and suggested his focus was on his image rather than the game. During an interview with the Sunday Times, Souness stated that Pogba "has absolutely everything to be a top player - great athleticism, super technique - but his attitude to the game is the polar opposite of mine."
Pogba himself responded to Souness's criticisms in a 2020 interview on the United Podcast, stating, "I didn't even know who he was, really." He further commented on Rio Ferdinand's podcast earlier this year, "I didn't know who he was. I heard he's a legend." The apparent shift in Souness's public stance highlights the extent of his commitment to supporting England's opponents in the context of the sketch.