Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has hit out at the "unfair" criticism levelled at Paul Pogba.

Pogba has been beset by injury problems this season, managing just eight appearances across all competitions, the most recent of which came on Boxing Day.

The World Cup winner has once again been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford as the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain circle, but Berbatov believes that he should stay at the club.

"Once again there is a lot of talk about Paul Pogba and his future. He hasn't played for a long time, people are asking questions of him: does he wants to play, how long will it take for him to return, when he comes back will he be able to play with Bruno Fernandes, how will he fit into the team - these are all unanswered questions that sooner or later we will find out," Berbatov told Betfair.

"I want him to stay at United and I want to see him play alongside Fernandes and the team, if not there will always be a team waiting for Pogba, if that is Real Madrid, Juventus or someone else who knows, but he will fit in anywhere. The criticism Pogba gets is unfair and he, like some other players, get criticised just for the sake of it, it doesn't matter what he does.

"He is doing everything he can to get fit and when he plays to help his team because I have seen first hand how he used to train with us as a boy, with ambition and the aspiration to be one of the best, so I don't doubt his work ethic and desire to become even better.

"All he will want to do right now is play football, we are all human beings and as much as you try to avoid it, criticism always gets to you."

The latest reports suggest that United are increasingly optimistic of keeping Pogba beyond the end of the season, with the interested parties struggling to afford him after the coronavirus pandemic forced football to shut down.