Paul Pogba is an 'amazing player'... he was ready for the top at the time he left Manchester United, says Thierry Henry

By Jack Briden for MailOnline

Published: 09:39 EST, 22 June 2015 | Updated: 10:54 EST, 22 June 2015

French footballing legend Thierry Henry has lauded compatriot Paul Pogba as a 'amazing player', saying the 22-year-old was destined to be a star well before his move to Juventus.

Henry, who made 123 appearances for and also captained the France international team, is not surprised the former Manchester United midfielder is attracting clubs from all over Europe.

Having played a key role in helping Juventus to Serie A and Coppa Italia glory and the Champions League final, Pogba has converted himself into a high-end transfer target for the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry described compatriot and Juventus starlet Paul Pogba as an 'amazing player' 

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry described compatriot and Juventus starlet Paul Pogba as an 'amazing player' 

Henry (pictured with Danny Welbeck) spoke at the launch of the new Gunners home strip on Monday 

Henry (pictured with Danny Welbeck) spoke at the launch of the new Gunners home strip on Monday 

Henry is convinced that youngster Pogba will prove a star player whether he stays at Juventus or moves on

Henry is convinced that youngster Pogba will prove a star player whether he stays at Juventus or moves on

The Frenchman's future at Juve still hangs firmly in the balance as he contemplates a potential £70million move away from the Juventus Stadium, but wherever he ends up Henry is convinced they will be getting their money's worth.  

'He is a special player and that's why every team wants him,' Henry told Goal at Arsenal's new kit launch.

'Is he going to stay at Juve? I don't know. But whoever gets him is going to get an amazing player.

'I was a bit upset for him because he couldn't perform the way he wanted to perform at the end of the season because he came back from an injury at the wrong time.

'For people to talk about him the way they talk about him right now, it's because he has something that young players his age don't have right now.'

Having scouted Pogba's progress over the years, former Arsenal striker Henry is extremely surprised the former United youngster vacated Old Trafford at all.

Pogba (centre) has been linked with a move away from Juve - with several of Europe's biggest clubs interested

Pogba (centre) has been linked with a move away from Juve - with several of Europe's biggest clubs interested

Henry believes Pogba was ready for the big time even before he left former club Manchester United

Henry believes Pogba was ready for the big time even before he left former club Manchester United

After growing frustrated with a lack of first team action and an apparent fall out with then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the young Frenchman decided to move on to Juventus in 2012.

However Henry thinks Pogba is now proving everybody wrong: 'He was ready to play at the time he left Manchester United. I don't know what happened there, he was ready for me at that time.

'I saw him play in a World Cup with the France youth team and you could see already that he had something different from the other players.

'It didn't work for him at United for various reasons but he showed character, he went to Juve and showed he could play. Now everybody wants him.'

 

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