In a conversation on former Man Utd player Rio Ferdinand's podcast, Pogba drew parallels between Fernandes' current situation and his own six-year spell at Man Utd from 2016 to 2022. During that period, the French midfielder secured only two trophies.

"We had a good squad, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan... but football is a game of 11 players," Pogba stated. "I am not sure what more I could have done. I am not comparing, but what more can Bruno do than what he is doing at Man Utd? For me, if he were at Man City, he would definitely be in the top 3 for the Ballon d'Or."

Fernandes (right) challenges Foden during Man Utd's 0-3 defeat to Man City at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England on 15/9/2025.

Over six years at Man Utd, Fernandes contributed to 139 goals in 225 Premier League matches. However, he has yet to win the prestigious league title with Man Utd, only securing the FA Cup and League Cup.

This season, Fernandes continues to play a role in helping the team finish third in the Premier League, behind only Arsenal and Man City. The Portuguese midfielder has scored 8 goals and provided 18 assists in the domestic league, just two assists shy of the all-time record. "In football, if you do not win titles, you are easily forgotten," Pogba added regarding Fernandes. "When you play for Man Utd, people always need someone to criticize. But for those who truly understand football, Bruno is a top-class player."

Assessing Fernandes' playing style, Pogba noted that his colleague lacks the good physique and ball-winning ability he possesses, but excels in all other aspects. "We often talk about Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, or Mesut Ozil. But statistically, Bruno has scored more goals than Frank Lampard in a season playing in the same number 8 or number 10 role, and also provided more assists. He is everywhere, constantly active, plays intelligently, with good one-touch and two-touch passing, and can finish."

Pogba came through the Man Utd academy, then left in 2012 and shone at Juventus, winning four Serie A titles and reaching a Champions League final. He returned to Old Trafford for a record fee of nearly 120 million USD. However, in his six years at Man Utd, he only won the Europa League and League Cup, and was frequently criticized by fans, similar to what Fernandes often experiences at the "Red Devils" now.

Vy Anh