Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho insists Paul Pogba will prove value for money.

Mourinho has revealed he is hoping the France midfielder quickly loses his tag as the game's most expensive star this summer – so he can develop without the intense 24/7 scrutiny of the football world.

He said: “I think in a couple of years you will realise that Pogba was cheap.

“But I have to admit that not many clubs have this vision of anticipation of what can happen in the near future like United do.

“A few years ago, £25m was a phenomenal player – today £25m is not even a player, it is the prospect of a player.

“Now, if you want to buy a good prospect, a good 20-year-old player that can be fantastic – and I say can – you are paying without the can. You are paying as if the can doesn't exist and as if the player is already a big player.

“So next ­summer can bring a few surprises at this level, and probably Paul will lose this status as the world's most ­expensive player which will be a good thing.

“I think he has phenomenal conditions, but I think the scrutiny on him is very difficult. When he plays very, very well, which he does many, many times, people think it is normal.

“Yet, when he has a game when he is not so happy and he doesn't perform so well, ­pundits and even supporters go strong on him.

“But that's the price of being who he is and his transfer price. I am pretty sure this ­summer that some players with only half of his quality ­probably will cost the same money or more.

“And I am waiting for that moment to ­release him from the scrutiny. But I am really happy with his football and his happiness to play football."