Manchester United superstar still lacking key ingredient

Having completed his money-spinning move to Manchester United, the pressure will now be on Paul Pogba to deliver for the Premier League giants. The 23-year-old left Old Trafford on a free transfer four years ago, but has now become the most expensive player in world football after returning from Juventus. Between 2012 and last season, the French international proved himself to be one of the best players in Serie A, as he became an influential part of the Bianconeri's sustained success. From his athleticism to his powerful presence in the middle of the pitch, coupled with his goalscoring ability and overall contribution to Juve's play, there were few in Italy left with doubts about his talent. His trophy haul shows that the decision to move to Turin was a success, but ultimately there is a sense that the reigning Serie A champions are the biggest winners in this deal having received a substantial fee for a player that they signed on a free. While Pogba still has the best years of his career ahead of him and will naturally continue to mature and develop, there are question marks over whether or not he's the answer that United are looking for. As he prepares to turn 24 next year, Pogba has yet to prove himself capable of consistently grabbing a big game by the throat and taking over it. His record in the Champions League justifies that argument, as do his underwhelming displays at Euro 2016 which are seemingly the foundation on which his detractors are taking their stance on United overpaying for the Frenchman. It's a valid point, and one that could be proven wrong in time. Nevertheless, at the time of writing, there is a debate over whether or not Pogba is, or can be, an emotional leader for his team. That will be down to him to develop over time, while Jose Mourinho will also play a crucial role in terms of playing his expensive new recruit in a position that allows him to flourish and naturally take up that leadership role for the team. While there will be plenty of loud voices in the United dressing room next season, Pogba's transfer fee and the expectations that are arriving with him in Manchester ensure that he must now become the loudest and assert his will and presence on every game. Fans of his ability will argue that he has responded in the past with a piece of individual skill or a magical goal to make his mark on games, and with the right desire and commitment, he'll only go from strength to strength on a bigger stage week-in and week-out. Time will tell whether or not that's actually the case, but for now, Pogba still has an important box to tick before he can be considered the new leader of this United team, and that will come through his performances on the pitch starting this season.

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