Paul Pogba makes controversial Bruno Fernandes Ballon d’Or claim

Pogba feels Fernandes would be in the Ballon d’Or conversation if he played for Man City (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Pogba elaborated: "Do you think Bruno if he is in another team, he’s not in the top three Ballon d’Or players? For me, you put him in City, he’s Ballon d’Or (top) three.

“He’s in the three Ballon d’Or (contenders), Bruno Fernandes, with the stats this season, the way he plays and everything.

“But when you don’t win, they don’t think about you. This is life, this is football."

Pogba and Fernandes played alongside each other at United between 2020 and 2022, before the former opted to leave Old Trafford to join Juventus for the second time on a free transfer.

Injuries and a doping ban have since hampered Pogba’s development, but the World Cup winner is now back in his homeland playing for Ligue 1 club Monaco.

The 33-year-old has made four appearances for Monaco this season, who are currently seventh in Ligue 1.

Meanwhile, Fernandes has continued to lead from the front at United, with Michael Carrick’s men now closing in on securing Champions League football for next season.

The Red Devils are third in the Premier League, eight points clear of sixth-placed Brighton with a game in hand on the Seagulls.