The Club Makes the Legend?

Paul pogba has made a bold claim: Bruno fernandes would be a regular ballon d'or contender if he were wearing the blue shirt of manchester city instead of manchester united's red.

Speaking in an interview with former united defender Rio ferdinand on Rio Ferdinand presents, the former french international — now at monaco — drew a direct comparison between fernandes' situation and his own difficult years at old trafford.

Trophy Cabinet vs. Personal Quality

Fernandes' numbers at united are genuinely extraordinary. Since arriving in January 2020, the portuguese captain has registered 139 goal involvements in 225 premier league appearances, including eight goals and 18 assists in the current 2025-26 campaign — just two short of the all-time single-season assists record.

Yet his major honours tally reads just an fa cup and a carabao cup. And according to pogba, that's exactly the problem.

"Do you think Bruno, if he's in another team, he's not in the top three ballon d'or players?" pogba said. "For me, you put him in city, he's in the ballon d'or three. With the stats this season, the way he plays and everything, but when you don't win, we don't think about you. It's like that, this is football."

A Personal Mirror

Pogba, 33, knows this reality firsthand. During his second spell at united between 2016 and 2022, he won just two trophies in six seasons, despite consistently producing at a high level.

"We had a great team," pogba recalled. "[ibrahimovic] came, mkhitaryan also. But I'm not sure I could have done more than I did."

He extended that reflection directly to fernandes: "He can do everything. He scored more than [frank] lampard in a season from the same position. He does more assists. He's everywhere on the pitch. He keeps running. He's smart."

Pogba also invoked the names of kevin de bruyne, luka modric, and mesut özil as comparable creative forces who earned wider recognition — insisting fernandes deserves to stand alongside them in any football conversation.

"Football players will understand that this guy is a top player," he added.

A Word for kobbie mainoo

Pogba also addressed the situation of young united midfielder kobbie mainoo, who struggled for minutes under former boss ruben amorim but has since flourished since michael carrick took charge.

Drawing on his own experience of leaving united in 2012 due to lack of opportunities, pogba offered nuanced advice — neither pushing mainoo to leave nor urging him to stay.

"If he's good with the manager, if the manager really trusts him — he's going to have all the clubs behind him," pogba said. "It's really hard for me to say he should leave when he's so loved by the people at united. He has big potential and can have a great career there."

Ultimately, pogba says he just wants to see the youngster play: "It's enjoyable to see him play."