Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has revealed that the club expect Paul Pogba to return from knee surgery in January, amid concerns the Frenchman could miss this winter’s World Cup.
Pogba rejoined Juventus from Manchester United on a free transfer this summer but is yet to make his second debut for the club after suffering a knee injury in pre-season which Allegri confirmed required surgery.
Juventus have since reassured fans that Pogba’s surgery was successful and he is now on the road to recovery, but Allegri issued a cryptic response when asked whether the midfielder would miss the World Cup.
“We will realistically get him back in January,” Allegri said.
When asked whether that statement was the boss ruling Pogba out of the global showpiece later this year, Allegri added: “The World Cup is not my problem, Juventus’ problem is that he comes back in January.”
France are the reigning champions heading into the World Cup, which will kick off in Qatar on November 21, giving Pogba just over two months to make a full return from knee surgery.
Pogba has been an integral part of Didier Deschamps’ France setup, performing so well at the 2018 World Cup that fans and critics alike were left puzzled at his inability to replicate that success at club level with United.
He has been a regular starter in the years since 2018 but missed the last international break with this injury, watching from home as France failed to win any of their four Nations League games.
Deschamps has used Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni alongside Chelsea man N’Golo Kante at the base of his midfield, with Matteo Guendouzi and Boubacar Kamara, of Marseille and Aston Villa respectively, also seeing minutes.
