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LONDON. — Manchester United star Paul Pogba is “fantastic” and a hard-working professional, but he needs guidance to fulfil his potential.

That’s according to the Frenchman’s former United teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Pogba has been heavily scrutinised for his performances since returning to Old Trafford two years ago, with suggestions that he lacks consistency and doesn’t warrant his £89m price tag. The 25-year-old shone during France’s World Cup win, but has been involved in a number of spats with Jose Mourinho since the start of the campaign.

Pogba is often criticised for the way he carries himself, with flash haircuts and on-pitch showboating resulting in suggestions of arrogance and unprofessionalism.

But when reflecting on his brief spell at United, Ibrahimovic leapt to Pogba’s defence.

“I miss all of them,” he told BBC Sport.

“I had a fantastic time at United. Wazza (Wayne Rooney), Michael Carrick, then the young guys that wanted to show the world who they are by playing football and they had a lot of hunger to show. I had a good time because I got to know everyone, I was the mature guy with all these guys who were not mature. Paul Pogba, I had never played with him before and I didn’t know him as a person. We have the same management and when I got to know him, I got to find a fantastic person and a fantastic footballer, but someone who needs to be guided.” — The Daily Star.