Manchester United's $121M Star Slammed By Scholes: 'Even At 35, He'll Be Doing Stupid Stuff'

Paul Pogba was once again on the receiving end of criticism from Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand after the Red Devils' 2-2 draw in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Manchester United trailed twice in the game before Cristiano Ronaldo rescued the team on both occasions to help the Red Devils secure a 2-2 draw against Atalanta.

Atalanta midfielder Josip Ilicic put his side 1-0 up just 12 minutes after the kickoff before Ronaldo scored an equalizer in the first half. Duvan Zapata's 56th-minute effort doubled the hosts' lead and once again, Ronaldo struck an injury-time equalizer to earn his side a crucial point.

Pogba, who started for Manchester United and was on the pitch for close to 70 minutes, failed to make a difference yet again.

"He needs somebody talking to him all the time, someone there who he totally respects and is experienced. He is a really experienced player but he will get to 35 and will be doing the same stupid stuff – stud-rolling the ball and people know it. The biggest thing with the player is his concentration – he goes away with the fairies sometimes," Scholes told BT Sport after the game in Italy.

"At Juventus he was excellent and that's why we signed him but you look at [players around him] – [Andrea] Pirlo, [Giorgio] Chiellini, [Gianluigi] Buffon, an aggressive manager, telling him all the time and he will need that kind of treatment until he is 35," added Scholes, who played only for Man Utd throughout his playing career.

Meanwhile, another Manchester United legend, Ferdinand, has asked Pogba to tell himself that "he didn't do well enough."

"I thought he took liberties a few times, he was a bit sloppy. Sometimes you just need to be told 'sharpen up, play one or two touch.' He needs to be telling himself that he didn't do well enough. There are not those [critical] conversations going on in our changing room. There's not a player in the world that starts every game perfectly," Ferdinand said in a post-match analysis show on BT Sport, Goal reported.

After Manchester United lost 5-0 to Liverpool at home last month, Scholes had targeted Pogba, saying Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team "won't miss anything" if the French midfielder did not play again for them. Pogba, who was sent off after a nasty foul on Reds midfielder Naby Keita, was also slammed by former defender Michael Gray, who accused the former Juventus star of bringing "bad blood" to the current United squad.

It is believed that Pogba has stalled contract talks with Manchester United and has less than a year left on his deal. FC Barcelona are targeting to secure the France national on a free transfer next summer. Pogba, who moved from Juventus to Old Trafford for $121 million ahead of the 2016-17 season, remains the club's record signing to date.

Manchester United's next assignment is a big one as they are set to host derby rivals City in the Premier League on Saturday.