Paul Pogba has said that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes would be a Ballon d'Or contender if he played for Manchester City.

Fernandes has recorded 18 assists in thePremier League this season and is closing in on the division's single-season record. He needs three assists in the final five games of the season to surpass the record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

The Portugal international has also scored eight goals, to help Manchester United into the Champions League positions.

Fernandes has produced remarkable consistency for Manchester United since signing for the club from Sporting CP in January 2020. Across 322 appearances, he's scored 106 times and provided 102 assists.

Pogba played alongside Fernandes during his time at Manchester United and believes the 31-year-old would be considered among the world's best players at another club.

He said Manchester United's inability to challenge for the major trophies during Fernandes's career with the club has cost the captain a chance of winning the Ballon d'Or.

"Bruno Fernandes, in other big clubs, is in the top three Ballon D'or," Pogba toldRio Ferdinand Presents.

"Do you think Bruno, if he's in the other team, he's not in the top three, a Ballon d'Or player? You put him in [Manchester] City, he's in the Ballon d'Or.

"He is everywhere on the pitch. He has a volume. He keeps running. He's smart. He can play two touches, one touch. He can shoot. When you don't win, we don't think about you."