These are sensations that are priceless. Those of the earth sinking under the crampons, huge spotlights pointed on the lawn. It's the whisper in the stadium as he stands ready on the sidelines, then the first duels, the physical impact, kicking the ball. On February 28, against Torino, Paul Pogba replayed a football match, 315 days after his last with Manchester United. The end of an ordeal.
To discover
- Europa League schedule and results
- Schedule and results Europa League Conference
Since then, the French world champion has played 6 of Juventus' last 8 games. Reason for rejoicing... to put into perspective. In the lot, there is no start, and there should still not be Thursday against Sevilla, in the semi-final first leg of the Europa League (21h, broadcast on W9 and Canal + Foot). Pogba rows, again. Two games after his return at the end of February, an adductor injury in his right thigh sent him back to the infirmary for a month. An ellipse next to the previous seven months spent on the sidelines.
SEE ALSO – Pogba's return to the pitch with Juventus
'A cursed season' for Pogba, Allegri laments
The Turin native believed he could treat his right knee without surgery last summer, until resolving it in September. He had relapsed muscularly in January and aroused impatience and annoyance among the tifosi of Juventus. "This season has been cursed for him," whistled his coach, Massimiliano Allegri. From non-operation to operation to all the minor injuries he sustained..." It was a long wait. And parasitized stories away from the field.
" READ ALSO Pogba case: who is Mathias Pogba, the man at the heart of the scandal?
On August 27, 2022, Mathias Pogba announced "great revelations" about his brother and spoke of an "explosive" file. At the beginning of the month, an investigation was opened for "attempted extortion in an organized gang" of which Paul Pogba would be the victim. Since then, in the middle of 30 years, it is radio silence. No mention of the threats or the supposed maraboutage of Kylian Mbappé, but his name blooms everywhere. Because Pogba, for many months, was no longer a player: he was a business.
Pogba case still ongoing
On 23 December, Mathias Pogba was released after three months in Villepinte prison (Seine-Sant-Denis). On March 20, Adama Camara, close to Paul Pogba, was indicted and imprisoned in turn. The case is ongoing. It does not prevent the player from playing football again, nor from applying for the France team. Pogba has not worn the rooster jersey since a friendly against South Africa on March 29, 2022.
Paul Pogba in the duel with Teun Koopmeiners of Atalanta Bergamo. MASSIMO PINCA / REUTERS
Without him, Les Bleus went to the World Cup final, and youngsters (Camavinga, Tchouameni, Rabiot) took over in the middle. Pogba is, at the moment, not a subject. "He has a big mentality," coach Didier Deschamps told Brut last October. For him to play again one day for the France, the former Le Havre must climb the ladder. He strives for it at Juventus.
Soon to be a starter at Juve?
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He played twenty good last minutes" on the pitch of Atalanta last Sunday (0-2), appreciated Allegri. "In terms of technique and physicality, he is a different player from the others," said the Italian technician. Pogba's talent is not a subject. In contrast to his rhythm, his endurance and his ability, for the moment, to play with intensity and lucidity for more than an hour.
Pogba titular, it may be soon, especially in a Juve sluggish despite good results. The Old Lady would benefit from a good "Pickaxe" (her nickname). It is 2nd in Serie A four days from the end and sees its return to the Champions League. Before that, they would take a Europa League. To offer herself a little more happiness, to her and to Pogba.
