Paul Pogba has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, and just two weeks after returning from his second injury of the season, the Frenchman has found himself back on the physio table once again. The 29-year-old recently featured in two games, coming on against Torino and AS Roma in Serie A, but saw himself sidelined again for Sunday’s victory over Sampdoria and is now set to be out until the end of the month.
According to manager Massimiliano Allegri, Pogba ‘tweaked a muscle’ while practising free-kicks in Juventus training. “This morning while he was taking free-kicks he felt discomfort in his adductor, he stopped,” the Juve boss said after the Sampdoria game. “Tomorrow we will see the extent of the damage. Tonight he could have given us a hand, but we are waiting for him. It’s a year like this anyway, these things happen in life too. He must be good and strong to get up and want to return to the player he was before.”
Following his setback, Pogba was seen apologising for his lack of availability this season. In a video which saw him get approached by fans outside of Juve’s medical centre, Pogba is quoted saying: “Sorry, my head’s not in it.” After leaving Manchester United at the end of his deal last summer, Pogba had hoped to kickstart his career with a return to former club Juventus. But it took him seven months to make his second debut for the Serie A outfit, as he recovered from knee surgery and then a thigh strain, which also led to him missing out on the 2022 World Cup.
As a result of his troubles, Pogba has missed a total of 33 matches through injury, which equates to 89 per cent of games this season. The end of the France international’s time at Old Trafford was also marred with fitness issues. He missed a chunk of the season with a hamstring injury and a calf problem saw him left out for the end of the campaign.
It is clear that Pogba’s career has been significantly impacted by injuries in recent years. Despite his talent and potential, he has struggled to stay fit and consistently perform at his best. This latest setback will be frustrating for both Pogba and Juventus, who will be hoping that he can recover quickly and return to action as soon as possible.
However, it is also important for Pogba to take the time he needs to fully recover and avoid rushing back too soon, which could risk further injury. With his contract set to expire at the end of next season, Pogba will be keen to prove his worth and secure a new deal, but he will need to stay fit and perform consistently if he is to do so.
Overall, it is clear that injuries have been a major obstacle for Pogba in recent seasons, and it remains to be seen whether he can overcome these challenges and fulfil his potential as one of the world’s best midfielders.
