Paul Pogba: Buffon stunned United allowed him to leave

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has mocked Sir Alex Ferguson over his decision to allow Paul Pogba to leave Manchester United.

Pogba has developed into one of football's brightest talents in his three years at Juventus, whom he joined after being allowed to quit Old Trafford on a free transfer.

The 22-year-old French midfielder was frustrated by the lack of first-team chances he received from former United boss Ferguson as well as being unhappy at the terms of a new contract on the table with the Premier League club.

Pogba will be in Champions League action on Wednesday when his side take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of their semi-final clash with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Before that match, team-mate Buffon said in the Daily Express: "I have been in football many years but the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United to not play Pogba and let him leave is one of the strangest I have ever seen.

"After just a few training sessions, we saw how good he was. it cannot have been the same player they saw in Manchester - we thought they maybe needed glasses.

Pogba can do things only Pogba can, similar to Messi and Ronaldo. United let one of the top players in the world leave but that has been only good news for us. Gianluigi Buffon

"I have never seen a player who is so good at his age. He is so strong, so technically gifted and has exceptional all-round play.

"Pogba can do things only Pogba can, similar to Messi and Ronaldo. United let one of the top players in the world leave but that has been only good news for us."

Manchester City are one of a number of clubs linked with a move for Pogba, but Buffon feels only a world record transfer fee would tempt Juventus into selling.

"Of course he will be linked with the teams with big money like Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and City, but at the moment he is achieving his dreams at Juventus," Buffon added.

"If any team wanted to buy him, I would feel sure they would have to break the world record fee."

As Real Madrid and Juventus prepare to face up against each other again, we take a look back at the first leg tie As Real Madrid and Juventus prepare to face up against each other again, we take a look back at the first leg tie

Watch Juventus take on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League semi-final second leg live on Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Sports 5 HD from 7pm on Wednesday night.