Paul Pogba is being judged unfairly at Manchester United because of his transfer fee, claims Hugo Lloris

Pogba, who rejoined United from Juventus in August 2016 for a then-world record fee, has been criticised this season by pundits and United boss Jose Mourinho

World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba is being judged unfairly at Manchester United due to his £89 million transfer fee, according to France captain Hugo Lloris.

Pogba, who rejoined United from Juventus in August 2016 for a then-world record fee, has been criticised this season by pundits and United boss Jose Mourinho.

Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris, who won the World Cup with Pogba in the summer, says the midfielder shows his worth with France and "when it matters he is there" for United.

“He has a status in the UK, maybe because of his huge transfer fee,” Lloris told The Mirror. “Sometimes people judge him not very fairly. Now he has more maturity, he knows what he needs to do, he proves that with us.

“I think his performances at United are far from being as bad as people say. He is part of a team which has worse results than we could have expected, that's for sure, but they are still a very strong team. When it matters he is there.”

Pogba has publicly clashed with Mourinho throughout this season (REUTERS)

Pogba’s future at United has been thrown into doubt by a public war of words with Mourinho, culminating in the midfielder being stripped of the United vice-captaincy after criticising the team’s tactical approach in a 1-1 home draw with Wolves in September.

He has since been banned from talking to the media by Mourinho, and frosty exchanges between the pair at Carrington have circulated widely on social media.

Barcelona have been widely credited with an interest in signing Pogba, who was included in the 30-man shortlist for the 2018 Ballon d’Or award as a result of his World Cup exploits – though he has stated that he feels France teammates Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, N’Golo Kante and Raphael Varane are more deserving of the award.

United are determined to keep Pogba at Old Trafford and he could yet outlast Mourinho, who has come under huge pressure after presiding over a torrid start to the season.

United lie eighth in the Premier League, seven points adrift of leaders Manchester City, having won only four and lost three of their opening eight matches. Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge to take on former club Chelsea on Saturday, before Italian giants Juventus visit Old Trafford in the Champions League three days later.