Kane's class - but England need new No.9 to lead World Cup bid

It's too easy for Ramirez! Clinical Chelsea look ominous

England's biggest winners & losers from the Nations League

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

The best Premier League loanees of the season so far

Szoboszlai in tears as Netherlands vs Hungary is halted

Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return 

Why Ronaldo has been released from the Portugal squad

Rashford branded a 'clown' after attending New York Knicks game

Ronaldo sets clear timeline for retirement

Barcelona icon Pique weighs in on Ronaldo & Messi GOAT debate

Neymar move ruled out as Brazilian club president mocks his injury struggles

Real Madrid 'prioritised shirt sales' with Mbappe signing

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Souness was vocal critic of Pogba</li><li>Labelled him "selfish" and "lazy"</li><li>Explains reason for harsh words</li></ul>

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

Serie A

AC Milan

Juventus

Premier League

Ipswich

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 <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/man-utd-cant-rely-on-pogba-souness/185m7j25lz2ya1eneb9ejz4ovc" target="_blank">calling him a "schoolboy" in 2018</a>, Souness went so far as to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/pogba-only-plays-to-keep-his-transfer-value-up---souness-launches-scathing-attack-on-man-utd-ace/18hgm6b6tmg411ue5itu94jupq" target="_blank">label him a "selfish" player</a> 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.

WHAT HAPPENED?

"He had the equipment to be the best midfielder in the world," he said on <a href="https://talksport.com/football/1719989/graeme-souness-paul-pogba-issue-world-cup-worst-thing/" target="_blank">talkSPORT</a>. "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."

WHAT SOUNESS SAID

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 <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/juventus-midfielder-paul-pogba-failing-anti-doping-test/blt26a7f7b3be44e98e" target="_blank">suspended after failing a doping test.</a> The Frenchman was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/paul-pogba-banned-four-years-juventus-midfielder-punished-doping-scandal/blt729c25135d5cdecf" target="_blank">handed a four-year ban from the game</a> on Thursday after being found guilty for said doping offences.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

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, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/paul-pogba-ultimate-wasted-talent-man-utd-flop-ballon-d-or-four-year-doping-ban-remembered-saddest-stories/bltece6442c8a505aeb" target="_blank">the 30-year-old may face a devastating decision to hang up his boots. </a>

WHAT NEXT FOR POGBA?

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

Graeme Souness has explained why he was so critical of Paul Pogba during his time at Manchester United, and where the Frenchman went wrong.