Last year, Paul Pogba expressed his determination to prove Manchester United wrong for not offering him a new contract sooner. However, this year, Pogba finds himself on the brink of leaving Juventus, with the club placing a surprisingly low price tag on the once highly regarded player. The relationship between Pogba, the fans, and the club has deteriorated, as his latest comeback was marred by a string of injuries and personal issues, resulting in a mere 161 minutes of playing time throughout the season.
This unfortunate turn of events was not what anyone had anticipated. When Pogba returned to Turin after leaving Manchester United, he was welcomed back by Juventus fans who saw him as a prodigious talent and a World Cup champion.
However, fate had a different plan for the French midfielder at Juventus. Pogba suffered a knee injury during the pre-season tour in the United States. Although surgery was recommended, Pogba opted for non-invasive treatment, hoping to secure a spot in the French squad for the upcoming 2022 Qatar World Cup.
As subsequent events unfolded, it became evident that Pogba’s decision to undergo non-invasive treatment was ill-advised. The French football star ultimately had to undergo surgery, resulting in him missing out on the highly anticipated World Cup. This setback was merely the beginning of a series of unfortunate events for Pogba, as injuries and personal issues continued to plague him, leading to an imbalance between his time on and off the field. What was once a dream return for Pogba gradually transformed into a nightmarish ordeal.
Nevertheless, life has a peculiar way of presenting glimmers of hope before cruelly snatching them away. Pogba gradually regained full fitness and showcased his talents in brief appearances as a substitute against Atalanta in Serie A and Sevilla in the Europa League semifinal. He even contributed with an assist during the latter match, prompting fans to believe that their beloved Pogba had rediscovered his old form.
On May 14, the stage was set for Pogba’s first start in a significant amount of time as Juventus prepared to face Cremonese. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, filled with anticipation as the prodigal son returned. Sadly, fate had other plans. Merely 24 minutes into the game, Pogba was forced to leave the pitch due to yet another injury, later identified as a low-grade lesion of the rectus femoris muscle. The jubilation turned into silence as Pogba departed the field in tears, his comeback season now in ruins.
