A bold statement has reignited debate around the career of Paul Pogba after former Belgian international Radja Nainggolan claimed he was the superior midfielder during their time competing in Serie A.
Pogba, now playing for AS Monaco, is attempting to rebuild his career after a turbulent period that included a lengthy suspension and injury setbacks. However, Nainggolan’s blunt remarks have cast fresh scrutiny on the Frenchman’s legacy in the game.
Paul Pogba’s challenging road back to the pitch
The France national football team World Cup winner has endured one of the most difficult phases of his career in recent years. Pogba was handed a four-year suspension following a doping violation during his time at Juventus. That ban was later reduced to 18 months on appeal, allowing the midfielder to return to professional football in 2025.
Following his release from Juventus, Pogba secured a two-year deal with Monaco as he sought to relaunch his career ahead of another major international cycle. However, persistent fitness concerns have limited his influence since arriving in Ligue 1, preventing him from making the immediate impact many expected.
Nainggolan questions Pogba’s elite status
Nainggolan, who faced Paul Pogba multiple times in Italy between 2012 and 2016, offered a surprisingly direct assessment of the French midfielder’s career. Speaking to Sportium.fun, the former Belgium international suggested Pogba’s peak years were limited despite his reputation as one of the world’s most talented midfielders.
“In my era in Serie A, only [Arturo] Vidal and [Daniele] De Rossi were as strong as me. Pogba? I was better than him, he only had three good years in his entire career.”
The comment is likely to spark debate among football fans, given Pogba’s achievements at both club and international level, including winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France and previously becoming the most expensive player in football history.
A career still under the spotlight
Paul Pogba’s career has long been defined by moments of brilliance mixed with periods of inconsistency and injury troubles. His high-profile return to Manchester United in 2016 for a then world-record transfer fee only heightened expectations around his performances.