Pogba out for three months? His shocking injury record since 2019
FT Desk
- Updated: 26 Jul 2022 07:44 BST
- 3 min read
Paul Pogba has only played one game since returning to Juventus and he is already injured.
The midfielder made his second debut for the club on Friday as Juventus beat Guadalajara 2-0 in Nevada, with Pogba impressing in the centre of the field.
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However, Pogba pulled up in afternoon training on Saturday during an exercise and beckoned the medical team. He then limped off the pitch, helped by two staff members.
Juventus have now announced that Pogba has suffered a lesion to the lateral meniscus in his right knee and will visit a specialist to see if he needs an operation.
“Following complaining of pain in his right knee, Paul Pogba underwent radiological examinations that revealed a lesion of the lateral meniscus,” read a Juventus club statement.
“In the next few hours he will undergo a specialist orthopedic consultation.
“Therefore, in order to continue treatment, he is not taking part in the trip to Dallas.”
The Italian media is certain that Pogba will require an operation - and he is expected to be out for at least two months, possibly three depending on the severity of the problem.
The new Serie A season starts in just over two weeks.
It is a familiar story that will be all too common for Manchester United fans, who have witnessed the French superstar miss numerous games over the past three seasons.
Pogba returned to Juventus on a free transfer this season after deciding to see out his contract at Manchester United.
The 29-year-old initially starred for Juventus from 2012 to 2016 before completing a then-world record transfer to Manchester United.
However, his six years at Man Utd were inconsistent and largely underwhelming as he failed to inspire the team to major success, only winning two minor cup trophies in his first season.
In the last few years, Pogba was decimated by injury problems.
How many injuries has Pogba had?
From the start of the 2019-20 season until the end of the previous campaign, Pogba sustained eight different injuries that kept him sidelined.
In total he missed a whopping 72 games due to injury or illness over a period of 33 months.
In the 2019-20 season, Pogba made just 16 Premier League appearances after two separate ankle problems forced to miss 40 games in all competitions that campaign.
Last season, Pogba had another long stretch on the treatment table from November to February due to a hamstring injury. He then saw his Man Utd career ended in April by a calf injury.
These persistent injuries were a concern for some Juventus fans upon his return to Juventus, and supporters will be hoping that his latest blow is nothing serious less than three weeks away from the new season.
