Graeme Souness, known for his past criticism of Paul Pogba, has acknowledged the midfielder as "one of France's greatest ever talents." This admission comes as part of a comedy sketch for Paddy Power, where Souness, along with fellow former footballers Charlie Nicholas and Gordon Strachan, adopts the persona of French supporters ahead of a match against England.
This marks the fourth time during the tournament that the trio has switched allegiances to support England's opponent, having previously identified as fans of Mexico, Norway, and Argentina. In the latest installment, Souness, adopting the name 'Guillaume Sounet,' offered rare praise for the former Manchester United midfielder when asked if Pogba was among France's top talents. Through evident reluctance, he responded with "oui."
Souness has been a vocal critic of Pogba since the player's return to Manchester United in 2016. He has frequently described Pogba as "selfish" and suggested that the player's focus is on his image and perceived cleverness rather than the game itself. Souness also commented during lockdown that Pogba had "absolutely everything to be a top player" but that his "attitude to the game is the polar opposite of mine."
Pogba himself has previously responded to Souness's critiques, stating in a 2020 interview that he "didn't even know who he was, really." He further elaborated that he is not someone who watches "a lot of punditry" and prefers to focus on the football itself. Pogba has also referenced Souness's comments on Rio Ferdinand's podcast earlier this year, stating, "I didn't know who he was. I heard he's a legend."
The seemingly abrupt praise from Souness highlights the extent of his commitment to supporting any nation facing England in the tournament, a stance that contrasts sharply with his long-standing critical commentary on Pogba's career.