PAUL POGBA COULD MISS WORLD CUP AFTER KNEE SURGERY

September 6, 2022

Read Time:54 Second

Paul Pogba may not return to action until January due to a knee injury which requires surgery, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Monday, casting doubts over the France midfielder’s availability for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Pogba decided to forgoe surgery after damaging his meniscus in training following his move back to Juventus from Manchester United in this summer, but Allegri said circumstances had changed after he attempted to return to training.

“This morning he trained for the second time but then stopped and it was then decided that he undergo surgery. We will realistically get him back in January,” Allegri told reporters before Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Paris Saint-Germain.

Allegri was unsure if Pogba would be ready for France’s World Cup defence, which begins in November, adding: “The World Cup is not my problem, Juventus’ problem is that he comes back in January.”

Pogba scored in the World Cup final, which France won against Croatia 4-2, and was a key player in France’s triumph. He has made 91 appearances for France and scored 11 goals.