Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed his admiration for a former Manchester United teammate, claiming the midfielder was even better than Italy legend Andrea Pirlo.
The German icon, who played under Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, offered rare praise in a recent interview that’s bound to spark debate among fans.
Schweinsteiger’s time at Man United may have been brief, but he shared the pitch with several standout names during a transitional period for the club.
While Andrea Pirlo is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Schweinsteiger believes this Red Devils star had qualities that surpassed even the Italian maestro.
Bastian Schweinsteiger picks Paul Pogba over Andrea Pirlo
Schweinsteiger, who played alongside Paul Pogba during his brief stint at Man United, was participating in a hypothetical bracket challenge for GiveMeSport, where he picked Pogba over himself and other high-profile midfielders such as Roy Keane, Cesc Fabregas, and Michael Ballack.
The most surprising choice came when he opted for Pogba over Pirlo, his former Juventus teammate and one of the most respected playmakers in football history.
Though Schweinsteiger eventually selected Sergio Busquets to surpass Pogba and later named Zinedine Zidane as the overall winner, his admiration for Pogba’s talent was evident.
Paul Pogba never achieved his full potential
For United fans, it’s a reminder of what Pogba could have been.
After first emerging from United’s academy in 2011, Pogba left due to limited opportunities under Sir Alex Ferguson, joining Juventus where he blossomed into one of Europe’s most electrifying midfielders.
When Pogba returned to United for £89 million in 2016, a then-world record fee, expectations were sky-high.
Despite winning the Europa League and League Cup in his first season back, Pogba’s time at United was marred by inconsistency and off-field distractions.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Trophies Won |
| Manchester United | 233 | 39 | 51 | 3 |
| Juventus | 190 | 34 | 34 | 9 |
| France National Team | 91 | 11 | 9 | 2 |
Injuries, public disputes, and managerial tension contributed to a rollercoaster tenure that never quite hit the highs seen in Turin.
Schweinsteiger’s praise underscores the level Pogba could have reached when fully fit and focused—something he also showed on the international stage by helping France win the 2018 World Cup, even scoring in the final.
That said, for a player still held in such high regard by his peers, Pogba’s career will always carry a sense of ‘what could have been’.
