Will Paul Pogba be next Manchester United captain? Jose Mourinho is touting £89m star as a 'leader' and he's the main man among youngsters... but pressure is now on to prove himself

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The esteem in which Jose Mourinho holds Paul Pogba is clear to see but it has been really rammed home over the last 48 hours.

Points are being made, and not so subtly. The first came before the defeat by Barcelona, the second directly after.

Pogba, Mourinho asserted, is now in the same realm as the world's finest. Lionel Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest. More than a few would argue that is the minimum expected from someone who is the most expensive footballer in history.

Paul Pogba is emerging as one of Manchester United's squad leaders ahead of the new season

Mourinho hailed Pogba as one of the world's elite, alongside the likes of Neymar (right)

The Frenchman could not prevent a pre-season defeat by Barcelona on Wednesday night 

But more striking from a United perspective was what Mourinho said a day before that. When the injuries piled up, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was no longer available, Pogba turned up.

The United boss believes the central midfielder will act as the club's figurehead for years to come and, as he forgoes a vice-captain this season, is pushing him towards added responsibility.

'Last season he came in the week where we started the Premier League and this season is his second season, where he was handed being a very important player for us also in terms of that leadership on the pitch,' Mourinho said.

'Wayne Rooney was not playing a lot, Zlatan was injured and Michael Carrick was not starting the final, the semi-final of the Europa League and so on, so Paul ended the season by being an important player also in the dressing room.'

Pogba has a big influence on the United squad and is best friends with Romelu Lukaku

Jess Lingard is another close pal of Pogba, who enjoys influence over the young players

He started to show the sort of drive United are desperate for, and one 60-yard run along the touchline, riding challenges to hold on to possession against Barcelona, offered a glimpse at the power and gumption he can offer.

But more than that is the way in which the club's new crop of players can identify with him. Pogba is the ringleader of United's emerging youthful core and that cannot be understated.

He is best friends with Romelu Lukaku, with the pair on similar wavelengths, while his relationship with Jesse Lingard is strong. Forget the dabs, handshakes and commercial sideshows, bonds have been formed and, like it or not, that should serve United and Mourinho well.

Marcus Rashford, for example, relates to both Lingard and Pogba having played in small-sided games with them as a child.

Michael Carrick is United's captain this season but is set to retire next summer

Mourinho (right) is on the lookout for leadership material among the rest of his squad

The Portuguese praised Pogba for rising to the occasion at the crucial end of last season

Pogba has broad shoulders and Mourinho knows he can unite a group of players. Still only 24, he is the heartbeat of the dressing room, a dressing room which is changing.

They are not the images of old-school 'model pros' but the game has changed. Professionalism comes in a different guise now. Pogba acts as the Pied Piper. The laughing and joking emanates from his corner of the room. They all follow dutifully.

'He starts this season from day one very comfortable with that role and I think the fact that Michael is this kind of silent leader, a leader by example, leader by class, but is a silent leader, I think the fact that Paul can be like the leader of the young people helps,' Mourinho added.

'He is still an academy boy; he is still the guy that in his relationship with the club and the structure, his relationship with the people in the club, is still the relationship of the kid that was here. So I think he has a fantastic role to play with us and (is) much more ready to do it than last season.'

There will certainly be a scramble to become Carrick's trusted assistant in the coming months, given the veteran is almost certain to retire at the end of this season.

That armband is up for grabs and Ander Herrera is certainly a viable alternative, but in this new world it seems inconceivable that Pogba would not be near the top of Mourinho's candidate list.