Antoine Griezmann says Paul Pogba is in high spirits and has backed the Manchester United midfielder to prove his doubters wrong during France s friendly matches.
A combination of poor form, injury and illness has meant Pogba has started only four of United s last 11 matches in all competitions, while speculation has persisted over a rumoured breakdown in his relationship with manager Jose Mourinho.
France boss Didier Deschamps conceded this week that the 25-year-old can t be happy with the way life is going at Old Trafford.
Griezmann, however, insists his team-mate is in a positive mood and expects him to perform well when France face Colombia and Russia in this month s friendlies.
He came back [to the squad] with a huge smile on his face, Griezmann told a news conference. He was happy. It s not easy when you don t play at your club or you don t feel at your best. It happened to me and he knows that.
He still enjoys having fun and working hard, which are what matter the most. It s up to him to prove and show that he s still the player that he can be.
The coach trusts him, like the entire squad. We need a smiling Paul and an efficient one on the pitch.
Quand tu retrouves tes potes après quelques mois de séparation
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance)
Griezmann s own future has again come under scrutiny this week, with the Atletico Madrid star telling L Equipe he does not want to head into the World Cup without knowing where he will be playing his club football next season.
Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for the forward but he says it is not certain he will leave Atletico at the end of 2017-18.
My future will be decided before the World Cup. A while before it, he said. I said the same to my club and my sister. There are no worries about it.
I had a complicated start to the season but I am feeling well in Madrid and we are going forward with the club.
I want to win a title. I think that I can with Atletico. I still have a lot to learn from the coach.
