Romelu Lukaku’s body is breaking down - just like Paul Pogba’s
FT Desk
- 2 Nov 2022 18:20 GMT
- 3 min read
On Monday, Pogba was ruled out of the World Cup later this month after picking up a thigh injury in training – just as he was working his way back from meniscus surgery.
It was the tenth different injury that Pogba has sustained over the last three years – during which time he has missed over 100 club games for former team Man Utd and new side Juventus.
Pogba has not played a competitive match for seven months – and at the age of 29, it is understandable why many believe we will never see a consistently fit, healthy and world-class Pogba ever again.
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We may yet not be asking the same questions about Romelu Lukaku as we are with Pogba, but there are a few similar concerns following the Belgian star’s latest injury of his own.
Just like Pogba, Lukaku is in his thirtieth year. In fact, both players turn 30 before the end of the current season.
And just like Pogba, Lukaku is starting to become worryingly injury prone in his late-twenties.
Lukaku’s injuries
Before his club record €115 million transfer to Chelsea from Inter in the summer of 2021, Lukaku was renowned for barely missing a game.
In fact, from 2013 to 2021 he missed just 28 games in eight years. He never missed more than five games in a row, with all of his physical problems just minor issues.
But the move to Chelsea – as well as proving a disaster in terms of on-field performance – also saw Lukaku decline notably from a physical point of view.
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The 6ft 4in giant who both outmuscled and outpaced defenders suddenly appeared to lose those advantages – at least when it came to his speed and stamina.
And he also started to suffer more injuries. He missed more games for Chelsea in a six-week spell before Christmas than he did in his entire two-year first spell at Inter.
In total he was unfit for over two months as a Chelsea player. This no doubt contributed to him scoring just eight Premier League goals all season – a paltry return given his €115m transfer price.
The injury problems have continued since his loan return to Inter this past summer. He was out for 57 days with a hamstring injury from August 29 to October 25.
However, just days after marking his return with a goal as a substitute in the 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen, Lukaku suffered a thigh problem.
He is expected to be back in time for the World Cup, but is likely to be well short of match fitness for Belgium’s trip to Qatar.
This season he has played just five games, scoring two goals. He probably won’t play for Inter again until 2023.
Naturally, footballers and sportsmen sustain more injuries and find it more difficult to recover as they get older.
In the case of Pogba and, to a lesser extent Lukaku, they are learning that lesson before they even reach the age of 30.
