Paul Pogba may miss World Cup with injury that could keep him out until 2023

Posted Friday, July 29, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester United flop Paul Pogba could miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after sustaining a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee during Juventus' pre-season tour of the United States

Paul Pogba may miss World Cup with injury that could keep him out until 2023
Paul Pogba could be set to miss the 2022 World Cup (Image: 2022 Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC)

Juventus star Paul Pogba could be set to miss the World Cup with a knee injury that could keep him out until next year, according to reports.

Pogba, who rejoined the Old Lady from Manchester United earlier this month, was diagnosed with a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee following a training session in Los Angeles last week. He will now visit a specialist consultant to determine what treatment is required.

The 29-year-old midfielder was expected to undergo surgery in the United States instead of travelling with Juventus as they continue their pre-season tour against Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

But he has instead flown back to Italy further assessment. Italian outlet Gazetta dello Sport report there are two potential options for Pogba, who won the World Cup with France in 2018.

The first approach would see a piece of Pogba's meniscus removed, which would rule him out for somewhere between 40 to 60 days. However, that operation is more suited to younger players and could affect the Frenchman's mobility.

Pogba picked up a knee injury on Juventus' pre-season tour of the United States (Image: 2022 Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC)

The other course of action would be to suture the lesion, but that could require a fourth to five month spell on the sidelines. With less than four months to go until the World Cup in Qatar, it would make Pogba's participation for France see unlikely. Gazetta say it could even rule him out until 2023.

Juventus issued a statement before Pogba returned to Italy, which said: "Following complaining of pain in his right knee, Paul Pogba underwent radiological examinations that revealed a lesion of the lateral meniscus.

Paul Pogba may miss World Cup with injury that could keep him out until 2023
Pogba rejoined Juventus from Manchester United earlier this month (Image: Juventus FC via Getty Images)

"In the next few hours he will undergo a specialist orthopaedic consultation. Therefore, in order to continue treatment, he is not taking part in the trip to Dallas."

Juventus sold Pogba to United for a staggering £89million in the summer of 2016, only for him to flatter to deceive during a disappointing six-year spell at Old Trafford. Despite winning the League Cup and Europa League in 2017, he will be remembered as part of the Red Devils' barren spell that has continued ever since, culminating in a dismal sixth-place finish last term, before he left the club as a free agent.