Paul Pogba: “If I come back to the national team, I’ll be the old one.”

Speaking to Views, French international and Juventus central midfielder Paul Pogba was asked about his future for his country, whether or not there will be more memories that he makes in the Les Bleus shirt, and how he feels about the international retirements of Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Manchester United centre-back Raphaël Varane.

“Frankly, if I come back to the national team, I will be the old one, because when I see the team now, I am really starting to be old. There are younger players coming through and it’s always good to be the big brother to these players. But otherwise, it’s like you say, a new chapter as a former member of the France team, it can only be good, because I see the squad, I know them. I know a lot of young people who were in the U21s and who we got to know, we spoke to them from time to time. And the France team has always been a family and a very good group with a great atmosphere. So going back there would be pure happiness for me, even if the veterans are no longer there. But I would have liked to be there before they left. Take advantage of the last moments of these veterans. But now, a change will come, so as I said, you really have to enjoy with the newcomers and try to win anyway with them too. It would be nice to leave with a win.”

Were you surprised by the announcement of the retirement of Raphaël Varane and Hugo Lloris? Or is it something you had already discussed?

I was surprised without being surprised because he [Raphaël Varane] had told me. He told me just after the World Cup that he was going to stop. I suspected it for Hugo but I didn’t think it was going to be directly after the World Cup.

I was surprised without being surprised because Rapha, he is very young and he could even have reached records like becoming the most successful player in the history of France. But afterwards, it’s true that, as we discussed, there are a lot of matches and physically, we are no longer young. So it’s understandable on his part, he had some big injuries too. This is what makes him happy because he wants to spend time with his family. We don’t have a lot of time with our families and he had the feeling to stop now with the national team. I think it will also help him to continue and extend his career.

GFFN | James Thorpe