Archive video: Paul Pogba downs Pompey Academy

By The Newsroom
Published 10th Aug 2016, 15:10 GMT
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 18:44 GMT
Paul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballerPaul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballer
Paul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballer
This week Manchester United set a new world transfer record by re-signing Paul Pogba from Juventus for £89m.

But five-and-a-half years ago the French superstar found himself in very different surroundings.

On January 10, 2011 Pogba lined up at Altrincham’s Moss Ground to face Pompey Academy in the FA Youth Cup.

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Among his team-mates that day, Pogba could include current United players Sam Johnstone, Will Keane, Tyler Blackett and Jesse Lingard, as well as fellow Premier League players Michael Keane (Burnley) and Zeki Fryers (Crystal Palace).

Paul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballerPaul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballer
Paul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballer

Living up to his star billing, Pogba opened the scoring with a thunderous strike from 35 yards past Pompey keeper Tom Fry – much to the delight of the onlooking Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton.

It was a goal which gave life to a promising United side but Blues defenders Sam Magri and Dan Bennett kept Pompey in it.

A Fry own-goal and a penalty from Gyliano Van Velzen then put impressive United 3-0 up before a late Pompey fightback caused a real scare.

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Dan Butler set up Ryan Williams to give Pompey hope, and the comeback was well and truly on when Williams added a second with a fine solo effort.

Paul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballerPaul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballer
Paul Pogba this week became the world's most expensive footballer

Sadly that was as good as it got for the Blues, and even the late introduction of promising striker Ashley Harris was unable to stop eventual winners United from marching on.

Pompey Academy: Fry, Tallack, Bennett, Magri, Butler, Wheeler (Colson 69 mins), Tsovolos, Stockford (c) (Harris 81 mins) Higgins (Grant 46 mins), Williams, Walshe

United: Johnstone, M. Keane (Lingard 75 mins), Blackett, Thorpe (c), Fornasier (Massacci 75 mins), Tunnicliffe, Cole (Fryers 75 mins), Pogba, Cofie, W. Keane, Van-Velzen

Related topics:Manchester UnitedWill KeaneAlex FergusonBobby Charlton
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