Manchester United ‘must have known’ about Pogba injury problems, says frustrated former Juventus coach

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Paul Pogba returned to training for Juventus last week but he has now suffered an injury setback.

BBC Sport report Pogba will not be part of France’s World Cup squad, requiring more time to recover from the knee injury he suffered in pre-season.

Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta released a statement which said: “Following yesterday’s and today’s medical review in Torino and Pittsburgh, it is extremely painful to inform Paul Pogba will still need recovery time from his surgery.

“For this reason, Paul will not be able to join Juventus’ squad before the World Cup break nor the French national team in Qatar.”

Pogba won the World Cup with France in 2018 and will not get the chance to defend it. His former Manchester United teammate Raphael Varane is also in a race against time to make the tournament as he attempts to recover from a hamstring strain.

Manchester United ‘must have known’

Paul Pogba left Manchester United on a free transfer in the summer. It felt like it was the right time for all parties to have a fresh start.

Pogba then suffered an injury with Juventus in pre-season and has not played a single minute for them this season.

Juventus have been struggling this season, in seventh place, and have already been knocked out of the Champions League.

Pogba’s injuries have caused frustration at Juventus, raised by former manager Luigi Maifredi, who was in charge of the club in 1990/91.

Maifredi told TMW: “Behind the failure of the Juventus team there is also the poor performance of the transfer campaign. Then let’s face it, if Manchester gives away Pogba so easily, they must have [knowm] something. There are consequences for Juventus.”

The current injury problems suffered by Pogba are related to a fresh injury he suffered after leaving United.

But you can be assured that Pogba’s fitness problems played a part in Manchester United being content to let him leave.

Pogba only played more than 30 Premier League matches in one out of six seasons he completed at Old Trafford.

Last season he only made 16 out of 38 Premier League starts, and ended the season on the sidelines after an injury 10 minutes into the defeat at Liverpool.

So yes, United did ‘know’ Pogba would struggle with injuries, it was just impossible to predict which one.