Are they blind?' - Buffon questions Manchester United over Pogba sale

The 35-year-old believes that the Frenchman has the potential to win the Ballon d'Or, while explaining why his vote for the 2013 prize went to Andrea Pirlo

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes Manchester United must be blind not to have recognised the astonishing talent of team-mate Paul Pogba.

The France international refused to sign a new contract at Old Trafford after becoming frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities under Sir Alex Ferguson, and left for Turin on a free transfer in the summer of 2012.

Buffon believes the 20-year-old Pogba is a future Ballon d'Or winner and cannot understand why United did so little to keep him.

"I voted for [Juventus playmaker Andrea] Pirlo, Cristiano Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi [in the 2013 Ballon d'Or vote]," the Italy skipper told Italia 1. 

"Pirlo because he is the best in his role, Ronaldo because he was the best in 2013, Messi because he is the best of all time.

"In the future I could vote for Pogba. He is one of those players that leaves you open-mouthed.

"Myself and my team-mates, even in the third or fourth training session with him when he was still a stranger, wondered if they are blind in Manchester."

Buffon has won every honour in the Italian domestic game and was part of the Italy side who claimed their fourth World Cup title in 2006, but the Champions League trophy has continued to elude the 35-year-old, who came closest to it in a penalty-shootout loss to AC Milan in the 2003 final.

And, with Juve eliminated in the group stage of this season's competition, Buffon doubts whether his team will win the tournament during his time there.

"Compared to big clubs in Europe, there's still a little something lacking," he remarked. "When we met Bayern Munich last year, I realised that there was something still to be filled.

"Conte is sure we will win the Champions League. I had this thought 20 years ago but it has certainly began to waver a bit."