If they had come from just anyone, the words would have had a certain significance, but as they were spoken by Andrea Pirlo, they carried substantial weight.
Pirlo, one of the greats of his generation, basically suggested that a baton is being passed down, from the artist of the centre circle to a more energetic, box-to-box presence.
“If he carries on the way he is, then he will become the greatest midfield player in Europe – and at his age he could have that title for a long time,” Pirlo said this week.
For his many admirers, that title may have belonged with the 36-year-old midfield wizard for much of the past decade, but even though Paul Pogba may be a very different player, in one respect he could prove to be Pirlo’s heir.
This could be dismissed as one teammate speaking favourably of another, except that Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has said that Pogba has the potential to become the world's best midfielder.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho singled him out as the best young player in last summer’s World Cup, while Neymar said Barcelona would “open the gates” to get him to the Camp Nou.
Pogba seems the most wanted player in football – a target for each of the world’s richest clubs.
If and when he leaves Juventus, it will prompt one of the most expensive auctions in the sport's history. Juventus have reportedly valued him at EU€100 million (Dh413.4m).
Not bad for a player who was signed for a mere £800,000 (Dh4.5m) three years ago.
Pogba never started a first-team game for Manchester United.
“I don’t understand why Manchester United let him go,” Pirlo said.
The decision was Pogba’s, as his contract had expired, but the mistakes were Alex Ferguson’s.
Infamously, and to Pogba’s annoyance, he selected Park Ji-sung and Rafael da Silva out of position in the centre of midfield instead of selecting the teenager against Blackburn Rovers in a Premier League match in 2011.
It seemed a strange decision then; it looks disastrous now.
Overlooked at Old Trafford, Pogba has become integral in Italy.
Pogba's three years in Turin have produced a hat-trick of Serie A titles and now a Uefa Champions League final appearance.
His physical power has brought comparisons with Yaya Toure.
Patrick Vieira, the totem in the France midfield for a decade, said his younger compatriot had similarities with him, but “he is more offensive than me and perhaps better technically”.
Pogba’s long-range shooting, whether with delicate precision or raw power, adds an extra dimension to his game, and he is becoming more prolific for club and country.
Factor in his height – 1.90 metres – pace and stamina, a passing range and a capacity to influence any game and it is easy to see why Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri called him “a potential phenomenon” and Pavel Nedved, Juventus’ most recent Ballon d’Or winner, suggested Pogba could emulate him.
The talent differential makes his role on Saturday night complex.
Pogba spent some of the semi-final second leg against Real Madrid as, in effect, a left-sided midfielder, sitting in front of full-back Patrice Evra as Juve’s central diamond became an orthodox quartet.
His athleticism will be required if Juventus are to counter-attack, while his quality offers the prospect that a less-gifted team could upset the odds and beat the red-hot favourites.
He is certainly not hampered by a lack of ambition.
“My goal is to be the best player in the world,” Pogba told Fifa.com in October.
If Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo form a dominant duopoly now, Pogba is a potential successor. His many admirers are evidence of that.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @NatSportUAE