While he was to return to the Juventus Turin group this Sunday evening (8:45 p.m.) for the match against Sampdoria Genoa, Paul Pogba, the French midfielder is finally forfeited. “Paul Pogba is not one of the summoned, because of a muscular problem felt during training this morning (Sunday)”, announced Juventus on its site by revealing the list of 21 players selected for this match counting for the 26th day of Serie A.
After the exclusion of the French international for the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League against Friborg (1-0) on Thursday – a disciplinary measure due to the player’s delay at the start of the rally – coach Massimiliano Allegri had indicated on Saturday that the player was now “available”.
Still too short to be recalled with the Blues
This physical glitch is a new difficulty in the season for the 29-year-old Frenchman. This was just starting after his right knee injury last summer, which required an operation in early September. He has only been able to make two late-game appearances so far against Torino (4-2) on February 28, and AS Roma (0-1) on March 5. While Didier Deschamps must communicate his list Thursday for the start of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, the presence of the international with 91 selections (11 goals) was in any case not possible given his physical level.
In addition to Pogba, Juve will be deprived of other important players this Sunday evening: Angel Di Maria (thigh), Federico Chiesa (knee), Alex Sandro (thigh) and Moise Kean, suspended for two matches after his exclusion in Rome. Due to a penalty of fifteen points received in January for alleged accounting fraud, Juventus are 9th, twelve points from 4th place, before receiving Sampdoria, red lantern of Serie A.