Manchester United's Paul Pogba is at same world class level as Lionel Messi and Neymar, claims Jose Mourinho
- Paul Pogba featured as Manchester United lost 1-0 against Barcelona
- Jose Mourinho highlighted the level of talent available to Barcelona post-match
- But he said one of his players - Paul Pogba - was at the same standard as them
- Pogba swapped shirts with Lionel Messi and posed with Neymar post-match
Jose Mourinho has claimed Paul Pogba deserves to be placed among the world's elite.
The Manchester United manager lavished praise on Pogba after an encouraging display during Wednesday's slender defeat by Barcelona.
Pogba provided moments of real class in Washington DC - and the Frenchman's manager believes he should be named in the same bracket as the very best.
Indeed, Pogba posted an Instagram photograph after the match of himself swapping shirts with Lionel Messi as Neymar looks on.
Paul Pogba posted this picture with Lionel Messi and Neymar after the match as the French midfielder swapped shirts with Barcelona's Argentine star
Neymar also posted this photograph with Pogba post-match on his Instagram account
Manchester United's Paul Pogba is a world-class footballer, claims manager Jose Mourinho
He compared him favourably to Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar after the game
'Messi and Neymar, there is only one Messi and one Neymar,' Mourinho said. 'Suarez, Iniesta, Pique, Ronaldo, Bale, Modric, Toni Kroos, there is only one, so they can only be playing for one club - we can't have them, they belong to the clubs.
'One of my players, Paul Pogba, showed the level and he belongs to that level.
'There are players that are special players and there is nothing you can do. You try to compensate the difference in quality with a certain tactical organisation.
'With that you can win in football it's possible a team is in a certain day better than the sum of the parts that's poss in football but the parts are amazing.
Mourinho also put Pogba on the same level as Barcelona's maestro Lionel Messi
Pogba plays the ball during United's friendly in Washington as Andres Iniesta looks on
The France midfielder takes on Barcelona's defender during the 1-0 loss at FedEx Field
Mourinho has been enthused by United's successful tour of America but questions remain as to who will partner Eric Bailly in the centre of defence.
Bailly has not yet played alongside new £31million signing Victor Lindelof, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones also vying for a starting berth.
Explaining why Bailly had not partnered Lindelof, Mourinho added: 'I think we will understand the reason in a couple of days.
'Bailly is suspended for the first Champions League match and the next couple of days you will have an understanding of why we play Lindelof and Smalling.'
It remains to be seen who will partner Eric Bailly at the heart of Manchester United's defence
United manager Jose Mourinho walks out at the FedEx Field ahead of the Barcelona match
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