Ex-Newcastle and Liverpool boss claims he wouldn’t sign star for free as he labels 91-cap international a ‘wasted talent’

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Graeme Souness has launched a scathing attack on the attitude of a former World Cup winning midfielder

Former Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has advised his old club not to take a punt on ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba - even if he is available for free.

The 91-time France international, who lifted the World Cup in 2018, has recently seen his four-year ban for a doping offence get reduced to 18 months, in a move which will allow him to return to training in January, before being permitted to play again in March.

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Pogba, who once commanded a world record fee of £89m when he joined Manchester United in 2016, was once regarded as one of the most talented midfielders in world football, particularly during his first spell at Juventus where he helped the Old Lady to four consecutive league titles, two Coppa Italia’s, an unbeaten league season and even a Champions League final.

He showed flickers of his best form in the Premier League with Manchester United - notably making the PFA Team of the Season in 2018/19 and also scoring in the 2017 Europa League final en route to victory.

But on the whole most fans will look back at his time with Manchester United with frustration and will wonder what might have been had he not sustained so many injuries, particularly in his final season when he made just 20 Premier League appearances.

His return to Juventus has largely been marred by injury issues as well as his off-the-field issues with the doping-related ban. He is still under contract in Turin until 2026 but it is understood that talks are currently underway to terminate the 31-year-old’s deal early.

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At 31-years of age, Pogba still has time on his side to add to his incredible trophy cabinet, but Souness does not believe the midfielder has any more to give and describes him as someone who has been on the armchair for the last six years since lifting the World Cup with France.

The former Scottish midfielder, who managed Newcastle between 2004 and 2006, told The Three Up Front Podcast: “How do I see him? Extremely talented, but he's just a wasted talent.I think maybe the worst thing that happened to him was winning the World Cup. He would have been a young man.

“From that point on, I think he got in his armchair. I took it personally when I was playing against someone. It's the only position (central midfield) on the pitch where you are against someone who's wanting to do more or less the exact same things as you want to do on a football pitch.

“'The only thing I was taught to do, from the first minute, was to work harder than the guy I was in against.

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'He (Pogba) goes out to play and to show everyone how cute and clever he is. Instead of saying, "I'm going out to make him (his opposite midfielder) have a miserable day.”

Pogba announced his plans to return to football in an Instagram post with the one word caption: “Loading.”

He has been heavily linked with moves to the MLS and Saudi Arabia in recent months as uncertainty surrounding his Juventus future intensifies.

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