Paul Pogba has the world at his feet as the commanding midfielder leads the charge for Premier League giants Manchester United. But how do you fancy seeing the talismanic midfielder striding imperiously through the battlefields of Major League Soccer?
The US football scene grows bigger every day and with a worldwide audience it’s no wonder some of the globe’s top players are being linked with a switch to the MLS.
And according to Wayne Rooney, there is every reason to believe that Pogba, who helped France win the World Cup last summer in Russia, would be a runaway success if, at some stage during his flourishing career, he chose to head for the States.
It’s a journey Rooney knows only too well, of course. The former Old Trafford skipper, who had two spells with Everton, moved to the MLS to hook up with DC United last year. And when he was quizzed on his thoughts concerning those he thought might be a hit in America, he said: “I think that it is fair to say that there’s lots of players who could come over and be successful here.
“Obviously I have to consider the players I have played with, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, players like that are great players and I know Paul Pogba loves coming to the States, his brother is here so I’m sure he would be a great signing for anyone.”
Any switch Pogba may make that includes a stint in the States would probably come later in his career — and there is the slight matter of interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, who are said to be lining up a mega-bucks offer to lure him to the Galacticos from the Theatre of Dreams in the summer. And Rooney acknowledges that joining such prestigious club is an attractive prospect.
Pogba hasn’t been shy in this regard, either. He said: “Like I’ve always said, Real Madrid is a dream for anyone. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. There is also Zinedine Zidane as a coach and it’s a dream for anybody who likes football. For now, I’m at Manchester. We don’t know what the future holds. I’m at Manchester and I’m happy.”
Meanwhile, Rooney has been back in action for DC United when they beat MLS champions Atlanta United, bossed by Frank de Boer, by 2-0 in their season’s curtain-raiser. The former England hitman had a hand in the first goal for the Washington-based side when he sent in a corner to find Luciano Acosta, who set up Paul Arriola to prod home just before the break. And it was Acosta who nabbed the second when his speculative shot from distance eluded Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan.
DC have definitely benefited from Rooney’s contribution. They were bottom of the Eastern Conference when he arrived in June, but he helped them to get to the play-offs for the first time since 2015 last term, scoring 12 goals and adding seven assists along the way.
