The Paul Pogba that has been on display in Russia during the World Cup has been one very different from the player so often on view at Manchester United over the past couple of seasons.
With France, Pogba has blossomed during the tournament, playing an important role as Didier Deschamps’ side have closed to one victory over Croatia of becoming world champions for the first time in 20 years.
Although packed with world-class individuals, Les Bleus’ chief strength in Russia has been their ability to come together and thrive as a team. It is a quality that has been lacking in the past, yet the transformation in the 2018 generation has been best encapsulated by the gregarious midfielder, who has radically changed the perception of himself in his homeland.
Jeered as France beat Nice 3-1 in a pre-tournament friendly, he is now recognised as a key member of the team, having apparently put his ego to one side for the benefit of the team, the coach and even himself.
At Old Trafford, Pogba has had the appearance of a man who is desperate to be the centre of attention. Whether it has been by changing his hair or performing a dance with his brothers on Instagram, there has almost been a sense of insecurity about the manner in which he has demanded to hog the spotlight, regardless of his performances on the field.
Over the course of the last month, however, he appears to have finally grown up. Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe have shouldered much of the attention for France, and Pogba appears not only to have benefitted from this, but to have positively revelled in it.
On the field, his performances have been formidable, he no longer plays like he has to do everything, while off it he has cut a more mature, reserved figure.
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The contrast has been stark.
Deschamps deserves praise for the subtle movement of Pogba into a slightly deeper role, which has actually allowed him to gather the ball with his face to the opponents’ goal, allowing him to break forward in the marauding manner that has been such an important facet of France’s play in Russia.
“Paul has this technical finesse, this quality of pass that allows him to make the difference and give the ball to the attackers quickly,” team-mate Blaise Matuidi said.
Of course, playing alongside a player as classy as Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante – arguably the star performer in the whole tournament – has aided the 25-year-old, but praise should be reserved for the Red Devil for the manner in which he has embraced his more understated yet altogether more effective role.
“I’m not talking about scoring goals any more, I’m simply playing my role as a midfielder,” he said on Friday, embracing the collective spirit of the team like never before and thereby winning the type of admiration in his homeland that he has never previously earned.
“Defending isn’t my strong point, I’m not N’Golo Kante, but doing it gives me pleasure.
“I’ve become more mature. Antoine Griezmann has spoken to me about my position on the field and that’s helped me. The team has made me grow and I want to continue like this.”
This new Paul Pogba has not gone unnoticed by club manager Jose Mourinho, who will no doubt have taken note of how effectively he has been used by Les Bleus.
“I think that his performances have been very good,” the Portuguese said. “He’s shown his maturity, he’s played with maturity. When he’s had to stay disciplined and hold his position to keep control of the game, he’s done it.”
Without Pogba 2.0, France could not have achieved the success they have managed. Deschamps’ system has been based around pragmatism and discipline, and it has been pulled off largely because of the brilliance of their two central midfielders.
While that was expected of Kante, few would have predicted that Pogba had the mentality to produce at such a consistently excellent level.
When he returns to Manchester United, he will do so a different, far better, player and perhaps even a world champion.
