Paul Pogba is world class, and the Manchester United need to build their team around him to get the best out of him, according to former Republic of Ireland defender Damien Delaney.

France are undefeated in Euro 2020 so far, with a draw and a victory to their name, with help from Pogba, who has put together a couple of world-class performances for his country.

The 28-year-old’s form for his national side confuses Manchester United fans, though, as Pogba has not been in world-beating form for the Red Devils this past season.

For Delaney, who was speaking on OTB’s Euro 2020 Show with Paddy Power on Monday, the problem with Pogba’s form for his club has nothing to do with his ability.

“I love him, and I always have done,” Delaney said. “Any time I have spoken about Pogba, I have said he is a world class player, I think he really is.

“I played against him in 2017, and I was just in awe of how good he was. It was the year that him and [Zlatan] Ibrahimović played together, and he was just brilliant.

“He had that freedom and Ibrahimović always knew where Pogba was going to play and had a great link up.

“He is the type of player that you, maybe not build around, but the type of player that you consider when you are putting your squad together.

“He is a free spirit; he probably doesn’t like getting tied down to one thing. He is the type of player that just goes on the pitch, whatever he feels he does it, and they fill in the pieces around him.

“That is obviously what N’Golo Kante brings to that French team, so that Pogba can have his moments; if he wants to drop deep he can get it deep, if he wants to push on, he can push on.”

Watch what Eamon Dunphy had to say about Pogba:

Delaney believes that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer uses Pogba in the wrong role and position on the pitch, which has a negative impact on his performances.

“At club level, invariably he plays from the left and he finds it very difficult to get into the game,” Delaney said.

“He drifts inside a lot, and Luke Shaw can’t then bomb up on the outside. It is just, the way that Man United are set up, Bruno Fernandes has that role of the creative freedom to go and enjoy himself.

“I think if Pogba played in the Bruno Fernandes role, in my personal opinion, I think he would get as much out of Pogba.

“With Pogba there does seem to be a thing around him where when he does make a mistake, he gets crucified for it. If he gives one away, everyone is onto him straight away, whereas other players don’t get that.”

Delaney believes that the reason Pogba plays so well for France is because Didier Deschamps allows him the freedom to do what he pleases.

“When you consider your squad and you take Pogba into account and let him play to his strengths, he can do some serious damage as a footballer, as we have seen with France,” Delaney said.

“France take him into consideration, but Manchester United unfortunately have never really seen consistently the best of Paul Pogba, and that is just unfortunately the way the the United squad has been put together.”

Can United afford to keep Pogba and play him properly?

Speculation on Monday around Pogba’s contract has seen him being suggested as the next highest-paid footballer in the Premier league, if he were to extend his stay at Old Trafford.

However, Delaney believes that, if he does stay, United are going to need to make a purchase or two extra so as to allow Pogba the creative freedom he needs.

“If you are going to give him that money, then you need to go and buy an N’Golo Kante-type player,” Delaney said.

“A player that gives him the same freedom that he has at France. When Man United play those two number sixes, there is only room for one number 10 or one number eight, and that is why he ends up playing on the left.

“If you are going to make him the highest paid player, then you are going to need to move pieces around the board to get the best out of him.

“Or you move him on and say, ‘you know what? Bruno Fernandes is our guy, and he is going to be our creative player’.

“You either move him on, or if you do re-sign him, you build the team around him.”

Football on Off The Ball, with Paddy Power’s SaveOurGame, Donating 10k to Irish football for every goal England score at the Euros.

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