Hugo Lloris responded to Rio Ferdinand’s claim that some critics felt that one former Manchester United player did not take his “football serious” at Old Trafford.
Rio Ferdinand linked up with former Tottenham and France shot-stopper Hugo Lloris, who is currently at MLS outfit Los Angeles FC, for a podcast episode.
Lloris arrived at Spurs in 2012 from Ligue 1 side Lyon and crossed paths with Manchester United multiple times ahead of his exit from the north London club in 2024.
However, the 39-year-old Frenchman encountered different Red Devils players on the international stage with France as well, including former Man Utd star Paul Pogba.
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Former Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba was part of the same France team as Hugo Lloris that lifted the World Cup trophy in Russia in 2018.
The 33-year-old Frenchman had been in his second spell at Manchester United during the World Cup run after the Red Devils’ blockbuster transfer in 2016.
Rio Ferdinand mentioned to World Cup winner Lloris that Pogba’s reputation with France was much different compared to what was said about him at United.
“One of the things, speaking to yourself and other people that played with him for France, it felt like people, the federation, the teammates, were more accepting of his personality, of how he could be sometimes a bit loud or just being Paul, which was a great character,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“Whereas at somewhere like United, maybe they would look at him and compare the way you saw him, would be like, ‘Oh, he doesn’t take football serious; maybe because he’s always smiling.’
“But I know Paul is serious about football, or he just transmits it differently to everybody else.”
Pogba had shown moments of brilliance in his second run at United, but his lack of consistency would often lead to the former France international being targeted.
Responding to Ferdinand’s point about Pogba, Lloris said: “No, he’s a great, professional guy. You know, he doesn’t joke with his work, you know. He knows how important he is.
“I know he had a few problems, [a] few injuries, and also outside football, some family issues. But after so many years off the field, it’s really hard to get your body fit and ready to play again, you know, three games per week.
“And so, I think, I really hope for him, you know, he gets back on track and I really want to see him, you know, performing in the French league at Monaco.”
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Pogba lifted both the Europa League trophy and the League Cup under Jose Mourinho at Man Utd and later left Old Trafford and re-signed for Juventus on a free transfer.
Lloris explained that former United and Juventus ace Pogba was the perfect example of the ‘generational divide’ that emerged during his own playing career in football.
“But also it’s the, I mean, like we say, in 23 years in professional football, I had to adapt to different generations,” he told United legend Ferdinand.
“And I had to adapt also to a new system where social media now is really part of our life.
“And some players, they have a team around them because they need to promote the image, the brand. And I get that. And I don’t want to be the old grumpy guy, you know. I understand that.
“But some of my generation, like Paul, understood that really early. And at the beginning, people didn’t really accept that. But now it’s part of our routine.”
Pogba’s second spell at Juventus was hindered by injury setbacks and the midfielder is currently at Ligue 1 side Monaco after serving a doping ban from football.
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