Rafaela Pimenta confirmed that the midfielder will not play the World Cup due to a knee injury
The injured French midfielder Paul Pogba will not be able to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to his lawyer and agent, Rafaela Pimenta, in a statement transmitted to AFP.
"After yesterday's (Sunday) and today's (Monday) medical tests, it is extremely painful to inform that Paul Pogba will still need rehabilitation after his surgery (on a knee in early September). For this reason, Paul will not be able to join the French team in Qatar," said Rafaela Pimenta in the statement.
The 2018 World Cup champion thus loses his race against time. Operated on a meniscus in early September, he had resumed collective training with Juventus in Turin in recent days, but a new physical problem on Sunday has delayed his recovery, making it impossible to be called up in Didier Deschamps' list, which is expected to be announced on November 9.
Examinations carried out first in Turin and then in Pittsburgh (USA) confirmed the Frenchman's absence for the imminent competition, which starts on November 20.
"If pious wishes could change things, Paul would have played tomorrow. But what changes things is work, resilience, and discipline, which are currently the only things present in his mind in these difficult times," Rafaela Pimenta continues in her statement.
"Paul will continue to give his best to return to the field for his fans and his team as soon as possible," she added.
At 29 years old, Pogba has not yet played any official matches since April. His departure from Manchester United in the offseason market to Juventus raised hopes of a career revival, but the midfielder was injured just before the start of the season.
For the 'Bleus', this new blow adds to the already confirmed absence of another midfielder also acclaimed in 2018, N'Golo Kanté. An essential pair in Deschamps' system, who will have to seek alternatives before November 22, the date of France's first match in the World Cup against Australia. AFP