Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed this week that Paul Pogba is not returning to training this week because he has an illness.
Is Pogba really ill? We can give him the benefit of the doubt, but it feels like he does not really deserve it at this point.
The situation with Paul Pogba is aggravated due to his admission via his agent back in the summer that he wanted to leave [Guardian].
Solskjaer told the club website: “Of all things he’s now struck down with illness and he’s been off for two or three days. That’s not beneficial and that’s probably set him back quite a bit. As I’ve said so many times, Paul is a top player that we want to see playing his best football at Man United.”
And this also bears an uncanny resemblance to the Romelu Lukaku situation in the summer.
Cover story?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer went to lengths in the summer to insist Romelu Lukaku did not play in any pre-season games because he was injured.
He insisted at the time: “Rom’s missed three games now, he’ll be concerned. He’s working to get back on the pitch and let’s see how long it takes.”
It did not seem genuine at the time amid constant speculation linking him with a move to Inter Milan.
He left the club in time for deadline day in a £74 million deal and it feels like Pogba is just edging towards the transfer window and may not play for United again, he hasn’t done since September.
Return dates have constantly been pushed back, from November, to early December, and now who knows?
Solskjaer adds that he wants Pogba to play for United, adding: “We just need to get him match fit. He might be half an hour, 45, 60, 90 minutes – who knows – in the first game. We’re working hard to get him back, but now he’s ill.”
At this point Pogba needs to show supporters that he wants to get back.
His motivation is in question, just like Lukaku in the summer who had seemingly mentally checked out.
It feels like Solskjaer is covering for him, not wanting to create a big distraction for his squad by throwing him under the bus.
Until Pogba proves us otherwise, the whole situation feels suspicious.
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