Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has insisted captaining France is not his ambition, believing he can still be a leader without an armband.
Pogba has been in the headlines for negative reasons for his club side recently, with United manager Jose Mourinho reportedly telling the Frenchman he would never captain them again having worn the armband at the start of the season.
This was a result of Pogba echoing fans’ cries for United to play more attacking football following a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.
Yet when asked about whether he would want to captain his country, Pogba insisted he would not need an armband to be a leader for France.
“I have never played for France to be captain,” he told L’Equipe (via Daily Mail). “Being here is already something big for me.
“You do not have to be a captain to speak. A leader is not someone who has the armband on. As a leader you can talk on the pitch, but I have seen leaders who do not necessarily speak.
“For example, Pirlo is a leader, but he will not speak a lot in the dressing room. He will be there on the pitch and show you the way. He is a true leader. The armband has never been a goal.”
Pogba and United have had a poor start to the new season, winning five of their 11 games so far while losing four. Up next for the Red Devils is a Premier League match against the league’s joint-leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Paul Pogba’s international career so far
Having impressed in Italy with Juventus, Pogba made his senior debut for France in a 3-1 in over Georgia in March 2013 but was sent off in his second appearance just days later.
But since serving a suspension for the red card, Pogba has been ever present for Les Bleus – minor injuries aside – earning 63 caps in total, while also scoring 10 goals.
And in Russia this summer, Pogba hit the heights of world football, helping France win the World Cup and building a strong partnership with Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.
The post ‘I don’t need an armband to be a leader’ – Pogba not concerned about future captain prospects with France appeared first on Squawka News.
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