Paul Pogba risks angering Cristiano Ronaldo by snubbing his former Man Utd teammate

Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba has said he would take Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo “any day” if he needed a player who could do more than score goals.

Pogba recently appeared in a livestream with internet personality iShowSpeed, during which he was asked about his preference between the two most notable players of this generation.

The World Cup winner shared a dressing room with Ronaldo at United during the 2021/22 season. But that, combined with the Portuguese's five Ballon d'Or victories and the fact that Pogba never played in the same team as Messi, was not enough to convince the Frenchman to turn to CR7.

“You love Cristiano,” Pogba told Speed. “Some people like Messi because, bro… see what he does? Messi is different. How can such a small person do that to people?”

Later in the livestream, Pogba was explicitly asked which player he would choose. And although he remained diplomatic towards ex-Red Devil Ronaldo, the 31-year-old made it clear his loyalty was to Messi.

“For me it's not Ronaldo or Messi, stop this bull****, brother,” he said. “Who do I prefer? If I have to make a team and I need to score goals, I will take Cristiano. Only to score goals. But if I need a playmaker who can score goals and make assists, I will take Messi every day.

Since leaving United, Pogba's career has been blighted by injuries and a doping suspension. He played six league matches in his first season at Juventus, then just 161 minutes in all competitions in his second campaign.

Pogba's return to Turin had been accompanied by huge excitement after his electric first spell with Juve earned him a world record transfer to Old Trafford. His disappointing second term went from bad to disastrous when he was suspended for four years by Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal after failing a doping test.

The sanction was appealed and reduced to 18 months, meaning Pogba can return to training in January and return to playing in March. Discussions are reportedly underway over terminating Pogba's contract with Juventus, with Marseille reportedly considering a January move for the midfielder.

“I’m still under contract so [the links are] “It’s not credible,” Pogba told L’Equipe last month. “We don't know what tomorrow brings. Why not play in Ligue 1? I don't need to say no.”