Thierry Henry has insisted that Paul Pogba was ready for a first-team role at Manchester United in 2012.
The France international left United three years ago at 19 and has gone on to blossom at Juventus, where he has become one of the hottest prospects in Europe.
Pogba has won three consecutive Serie A titles with the Bianconeri and almost won the Treble his year – his side lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the Champions League final.
He is being linked with a summer move to Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and even a return to Old Trafford.
“[Pogba] was ready to play at the time he left Manchester United,” Henry told Goal. “I don’t know what happened there, he was ready for me at that time.
“I saw him play in a World Cup with the France youth team and you could see already that he had something different from the other players.
“It didn’t work for him at United for various reasons but he showed character, he went to Juve and showed he could play. Now everybody wants him.”
Henry also admitted that Juventus have a tough job in convincing Pogba to stay in Turin ahead of next season.
“He is a special player and that’s why every team wants him,” the former Gunners captain said. “Is he going to stay at Juve? I don’t know. But whoever gets him is going to get an amazing player.
“I was a bit upset for him because he couldn’t perform the way he wanted to perform at the end of the season because he came back from an injury at the wrong time.
“For people to talk about him the way they talk about him right now, it’s because he has something that young players his age don’t have right now.”
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