Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 7y

Paul Pogba to shine at Man Utd once Mourinho decides best position - Nasri

Samir Nasri has told L'Equipe that his former France teammate Paul Pogba will produce his top form for Manchester United when Jose Mourinho makes his mind up on the midfielder's best position.

Pogba has scored twice in 10 Premier League outings for United since his world-record move from Juventus in the summer and his overall performances have often failed to impress.

Nasri, however, believes his ex-international colleague has a lot more to offer, and will show it as soon as Mourinho settles on how best to fit Pogba into his team. 

"In terms of pure talent, he's a phenomenon. But his performances on the pitch still aren't worthy of his talent," Nasri, currently on loan at Sevilla from Manchester City, said. "In terms of quality, but not yet in terms of what he produces, he makes me think of Yaya Toure. He's a player who can get forward.

"He has one problem: He still hasn't found his position. At United, they have dragged him about all over the place -- behind the striker, a little deeper, as a No. 8. When he plays as a No. 8 on the right, people say he should be on the left when I think they're the same thing. He's lacking that little something."

Nasri, who moved to Sevilla on loan from City in the summer, came through France's youth teams alongside Karim Benzema before the pair established themselves in the senior side.

Benzema has been unable to play for Les Bleus since it was revealed he was being investigated by police as part of an enquiry into alleged attempted extortion of France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

The Real Madrid striker was forced to watch Euro 2016 from home as his nation finished runners-up, and France's Antoine Griezmann ended the tournament as top scorer.

Nasri is confident that once Benzema is able to return, France coach Didier Deschamps will be able to find a place for both strikers in his side, and that their partnership would be a fruitful one. 

"He's [Benzema] a friend, but you have to be objective. He's the best French forward," Nasri said. "Griezmann you play him behind the centre-forward. For me, it works.

"He doesn't need to put himself at the service of Griezmann. Their games are made for each other. When Griezmann played out wide, they kept looking for each other, so through the middle, Karim has always liked playing like that. Little one-twos, the short game. Griezmann likes that too. For me, it's certain they would get on well."

The same cannot be said of Nasri and Deschamps, who has not picked the midfielder since he featured in the 2-0 defeat in Ukraine in the 2014 World Cup playoff in November 2013.

Despite playing a starring role in City's Premier League title win that season, Nasri was a conspicuous absence from Deschamps' squad to go to Brazil.

The former Marseille and Arsenal man announced his retirement from international football in August 2014, and though his current form with Sevilla may normally warrant a recall, Nasri insists he has no interest in returning. 

"No, never again," said Nasri, who was capped 41 times. "I think I have had my story with France. Unfortunately, it's not the story I would have liked. I would have liked to have played a World Cup, I would have liked to have done a lot more for the French national team.

"But you have to know when to turn the page, and I have turned that page, whether it is with or without Didier Deschamps. There's a talented generation, new players coming through. You just have to accept it, that's all."

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