Juventus international Paul Pogba is not available for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where France will defend the world title, due to injury, his coach, Brazilian Rafaela Pimenta, said on Monday.
“After yesterday’s medical exams [no domingo] and today, it is extremely painful to report that Paul Pogba is still in need of rehabilitation after his surgery. [ao joelho, no início de setembro]. For this reason, Paul will not be able to join the French team in Qatar,” reads the statement from the player’s coach and lawyer.
Pogba, 29, underwent surgery in early September on his right knee, after a period of conservative treatment, which would have worsened the injury he had had since July to the lateral meniscus, according to the doctor who operated on him, Roberto Rossi.
“Conservative therapy did not work, on the contrary, it worsened the injury (…). The injury to the lateral meniscus was complicated because the tissue was fragmented and the injury worsened,” the doctor said in September, quoted by the Italian. Tuttosport newspaper.
The player, who did not play for Juventus this season, who failed in Benfica’s group to qualify for the round of 16 of the Champions League, was world champion in 2018 with France, and in 2021 he won the Nations League .
The call for coach Didier Deschamps for the Qatar World Cup, which will be played between November 20 and December 18, is scheduled for next week, on November 9.
“If positive thinking could change anything, Paul would play tomorrow. But what changes things is hard work, resilience and discipline, which are the only things present in our spirit in these difficult times,” Pogba’s coach added. .
The absence of the player – who was still in a controversy with his older brother, charged with attempted extortion of Pogba and criminal association – is a heavy blow for France, which will also be without N’Golo Kanté, also injured.
In the World Cup, France is in Group D, with Tunisia, Denmark and Australia.
Source: TSF
