CHERRIES star Joshua King believes his former team-mate Paul Pogba is “worth every penny” of his £89million world-record transfer.

Pogba, who played alongside King in the reserves at Manchester United, this week returned to Old Trafford, having left for Juventus for £1.5m in 2012.

The 23-year-old became Jose Mourinho’s fourth summer addition, following Eric Bailly from Villarreal and Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund – both for around £30m – and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free.

Mourinho, appointed in May as successor to Louis van Gaal, brings his new-look United team to Vitality Stadium on Sunday to face Cherries in this season’s Premier League opener.

King, who yesterday signed a new four-year deal with Cherries, spent almost three years with Pogba at Old Trafford before the Frenchman left for Italy.

He told the Daily Echo: “United have made four great signings. I played with Paul Pogba when I was there and he is an amazing player. He has been like that since day one and always had the talent.

“They have also got Ibrahimovic and he has won titles everywhere he has been. United have had a good transfer window so far.”

Asked whether he ever thought Pogba would return to United for £89m, King replied: “You can never guess. The money in football now just keeps going up with the new television deal and everything.

“Pogba is one of the best midfielders, if not the best, in the world right now and he is only 23. He is only going to improve and playing under Mourinho is just going to make him better.

“I always saw the potential in him and was a bit surprised when he left for Juventus. But that’s football and it doesn’t always work out. Not many players have left United and come back.

“I’m very happy for him that he’s doing so well. He has set the record transfer fee which is amazing. United have got an amazing player back and I think he will do well. He is worth every penny.”

King netted the winner against United at Vitality Stadium in December and will be hoping to feature when Eddie Howe’s men kick off their second Premier League campaign against the Red Devils.

He added: “It was a good day at the office and getting the winner against your old club means a lot. But we won the game and that was the most important thing.

“It’s going to be tough playing them on Sunday and I think, with the staff and the team, they are maybe back to where they were.”

Commenting on his new contract, he said: “I am delighted. I signed for three years when I first came here and it’s good to be rewarded when you do well.

“The gaffer mentioned it to me when we came back in pre-season and said he wanted to give me a new contract because he felt I deserved it.”