Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Paul Pogba’s hopes of salvaging his turbulent season with Juventus have been dealt a severe blow as scans have confirmed an injury to his left thigh, which could rule him out of the rest of the campaign. The 30-year-old midfielder suffered the setback during Juventus’ win over Cremonese on Sunday, marking his first competitive match in over a year.
The tests carried out by the club revealed a “low-grade injury to the rectus femoris muscle”, clarifying the extent of Pogba’s injury. With just four games left of the season, including the second leg of the Europa League semi-final against Sevilla, Juventus face the possibility of losing their influential midfielder during a crucial period.
Pogba’s injury problems plagued him throughout the season. He suffered a calf injury in his final game for former club Manchester United in April 2022, bringing his campaign to a premature end. Upon returning to Juventus in the summer, he suffered another setback with a knee injury during pre-season. Initially hesitant to undergo surgery due to concerns about missing the World Cup, Pogba ended up opting for the operation.
Despite returning to the team in January, Pogba faced yet another setback with a muscle problem, which further delayed his return. He made his second debut for Juventus on February 28, but found himself in trouble in March when he was excluded from the Europa League match against Freiburg for disciplinary reasons.
Pogba’s journey back to full fitness continued to be fraught with challenges, as he suffered an injury to his right thigh during free-kick training. However, he gradually regained his form, making nine substitute appearances before earning a place in the starting line-up against Cremonese.
When Pogba left the field in the 24th minute, visibly upset, it was clear that his season was once again in jeopardy. Juventus will now have to face crucial matches without their star midfielder in the hope of securing their remaining objectives without his influential presence on the pitch.