Graeme Souness explains his obsession with Paul Pogba and pinpoints where things went wrong for former Man Utd midfielder following four-year ban

Ex-Liverpool star and manager Souness was a vocal critic of Pogba throughout his six years at Old Trafford following his club-record transfer from Juventus. After calling him a "schoolboy" in 2018, Souness went so far as to label him a "selfish" player and last year said he was a "lazy tw*t". The Scotsman has now explained why he was so harsh on the France international and World Cup winner.

"He had the equipment to be the best midfielder in the world," he said on talkSPORT. "I saw a young man that was going through emotions a lot of the time, and that frustrated me. With that physique and that technical ability, he just did not have the right attitude to make him a superstar. The worst thing that happened to him was winning a World Cup, because he could turn and say: 'I am a World Cup winner'. I think at that point, it was him going backwards."

Pogba left United to return to Juventus in 2022 but his career in Italy has plummeted since then. Injuries restricted him to just 10 appearances in all competitions in his first season back and things got even worse this season when he suspended after failing a doping test. The Frenchman was handed a four-year ban from the game on Thursday after being found guilty for said doping offences.

Pogba's lawyers will try to get his punishment reduced on appeal in a last-minute attempt to ensure he serves a maximum of two years. If unsuccessful, the 30-year-old may face a devastating decision to hang up his boots.