It's starting to look like an endless nightmare for "the Pickaxe." While he was growing in power for several weeks with Juventus, Paul Pogba was starting for the first time since April 2022 this Sunday, against Cremonese in Serie A.
But his match was ultimately very short-lived. From the 23rd minute of play, the French international held the back of his right thigh, before getting on the ground. The former Mancunian immediately put his head in his hands, and broke down in tears.
📺 [LIVE] 🇮🇹 #SerieA
😱😱😱 Another injury for Paul Pogba...
😞 Starting for the first time since April 19, 2022, the Frenchman collapsed on his own and left the field in tears.https://t.co/YzfwNpISjK
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) May 14, 2023
After the intervention of the medical staff of Juventus, and while his teammates had come to his support - like Adrien Rabiot - the midfielder got up. He left the pitch with his face hidden in his jersey.
First tenure in 390 days
The continuation of a hellish series for Paul Pogba, he who had not been a starter for 390 days. The day before the match, his coach, Massimiliano Allegri, was reassuring about the 30-year-old world champion. "He is progressing physically, he played a good 25 minutes against Sevilla (in the Europa League on Thursday, editor's note). When the game happens in the opposing camp, he becomes an extraordinary player," Allegri recalled. But he needs matches to get back in shape, he knows it, we've often talked about it. For now, the important thing is that it is available for a moment, half an hour. Playing every three days, it's hard for him to recover for a whole game."
Since recovering from his adductor muscle injury in March, Pogba had made seven appearances, of a maximum of 25 minutes, in the past month.
390 – Paul Pogba 🇫🇷 will have tonight his first start in all competitions since April 1, 19 against Liverpool, 2022 days ago. Repioche. pic.twitter.com/390SLUnqn71
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 14, 2023
Injured, then operated in September 2022, the Frenchman did not play again with Juventus after his arrival until last February, before being injured again. Since then, he had been content to come into play, and seemed to be getting his bearings, with increasingly impactful entries.
Against Cremonese, 19th in Serie A, he was replaced by Arkadiusz Milik in the first half. Second in the Italian league, the Old Lady plays big at the end of the season, she who is still neck and neck with Inter Milan and Lazio Rome.