Ravel Morrison was better than Paul Pogba while at Manchester United, claims Jesse Lingard
Ravel 'was that raw natural talent, the player who could do anything. If he wanted to score he'd just score'
JESSE LINGARD insists Ravel Morrison – and not Paul Pogba – was the “player who stood out” when they played together in the Manchester United youth team.
Not that Pogba, United’s record £89million buy when the Frenchman rejoined them from Juventus in the summer, was a bad player.
It’s just that England winger Lingard thinks the unlikely Morrison, whose career has been patchy to say the least, was the most talented.
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He said: “I played with [Morrison] from eight, nine. He was that raw natural talent, the player who could do anything. If he wanted to score he’d just score.”
Lingard admits, though, that Pogba often excelled.
He told the : “Even at 18 nobody could tackle him and he scored goals and produced skills you shouldn’t be able to at that age.
“In the Youth Cup every one of his performances was above 8/10, you knew he’d be a top player.”
The three players have since gone on different paths following their time at Manchester United’s youth teams.
Lingard broke into the first team last season after loan spells with Birmingham City, Brighton and Derby and is one of Pogba’s closest friends at United.
The two stayed in touch when Pogba left United to join Juventus to find regular first team play.
Morrison also left United, was sold to West Ham, and had loan spells at Birmingham City, QPR and Cardiff City, before joining Lazio.
He has recently returned to QPR for another loan spell.