Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists highly-rated midfielder Paul Pogba is far from the finished article, Mail Sport reports.
The Juventus star was heavily linked with a move away from the defending Serie A champions during the summer transfer window, but opted to stay in Italy in order to allow himself the best preparation for next summer’s European Championships on his home soil.
A switch to the Etihad Stadium for the 22-year-old has been touted in the media as many view Pogba as the natural replacement for Yaya Toure as the pair share similar traits in terms of goalscoring threat and their obvious powerful displays in the engine room.
However, Pellegrini believes the comparisons stop there as Toure has been playing at the highest level for a number of years:
“I don’t think it’s fair to compare a young player who is just starting with Yaya Toure who has had a brilliant career,” he said.
“He [Pogba] must arrive to do what Yaya has done in his career.”
“Pogba is a very young player and when you’re young you have the chance to continue improving. That’s why it can be important to buy young players because they have more chances to improve,” Pellegrini added.
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The Chilean boss is likely to witness Pogba’s talent in person on Tuesday night as the two clubs clash in their UEFA Champions League Group D opener at the Etihad.