New Manchester United signing Carlos Baleba has revealed that Paul Pogba was his footballing idol growing up.
In a recent interview with Man United, he said: “When I was younger, my footballing idol was Paul Pogba.”
When quizzed on whether he shares any similarities with the former World Cup winner, Baleba added: “Yes, when I drive with the ball.”
Baleba completed a £70 million transfer to United from Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday.
United had admired the Cameroonian for more than a year and first tried to bring him to Manchester last summer.
However, Brighton refused to entertain offers below £110 million, effectively shutting the door on a potential move.
Baleba endured a frustrating 2025-26 campaign, with his failed United move reportedly affecting his focus while a series of minor injuries also disrupted his season.
The 22-year-old started just 23 Premier League matches and was hauled off at half-time on several occasions.
Despite those struggles, the Red Devils never lost faith in his immense potential and remained determined to secure his signature at a far more favourable price this summer.
Baleba was also eager to switch to Old Trafford, which eventually forced Brighton to agree to a compromise.
Paul Pogba was a force of nature at his peak, combining outrageous technique with the ability to dictate matches from midfield.
The Frenchman established himself as a star at Juventus before returning to Manchester United in 2016 for a then-world-record transfer fee.
He went on to register 39 goals and 47 assists in 226 appearances for the Red Devils.
Pogba possessed a rare ability to completely swing the momentum of a match almost single-handedly, as he famously demonstrated against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in 2018.
United were staring at a 2-0 deficit before Pogba produced a stunning brace in the second half to help his side complete a 3-2 comeback victory.
If Baleba can develop into even a fraction of the player Pogba was at his best while offering greater consistency, the Red Devils could have a midfield superstar on their hands.
Stats from Fotmob.com