Is Pogba on the same level as Messi? (Picture: AMA/Getty)

Jose Mourinho rates Paul Pogba on the same level as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United star impressed during a 1-0 loss to Barcelona.

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The Portuguese boss was delighted with the France international’s display despite the defeat, which came courtesy of a Neymar goal after the Brazilian latched onto a pass from Messi via a mistake from Antonio Valencia.

And after Pogba battled well on the same stage as the duo, his manager placed him on a pedestal alongside them.

‘With Messi and Neymar, there is only one [of each],’ Mourinho said after the 1-0 defeat.


Neymar 2016/17 stats Appearances 45 Goals 20 Assists 19 Share



‘There are not two. Suarez, Iniesta, Pique, Ronaldo, Bale, Modric, Toni Kroos, there is only one of them. So they can only play for one club and not two. We cannot have them.

‘They belong to the clubs. You can be working very hard tactically to improve your team, to improve your players, but some players are special and against that nature there is nothing you can do. In the real matches you try to compensate the difference in quality with a certain tactical organisation, and with that you can win.

‘In football it is possible for a team to be better than the sum of the parts. But the parts are amazing. Their relationship with the ball is amazing. You can argue about the occupation of space, tactics and compact blocks, but the player’s relationship with the ball is still the most important thing.

‘Even as an opponent on the bench like I am, it is beautiful to see the guys’ relationship with the ball. Today, one of my players, Paul Pogba, showed the level. He showed that he belongs at that level.’

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