Pogba only cares about hair, says rival coach

Paul Pogba underwent successful knee surgery on Monday night, Juventus said as the France midfielder's hopes of appearing at the World Cup hang in the balance.

"This evening, Paul Pogba underwent selective external arthroscopic meniscectomy," Juve said in a statement.

"The surgery, performed by Prof. Roberto Rossi in the presence of the Juventus Team Doctor, Luca Stefanini was a complete success."

The 29-year-old injured the meniscus in his right knee in July and initially opted against surgery in a bid to be fit for the World Cup which kicks off on November 19.

However after returning to training on Sunday Pogba changed his mind about an operation which according to multiple reports could keep him out of action for as long as two months.

Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri had already plunged into doubt his availability at the Qatar tournament earlier on Monday when he revealed that Pogba would go under the knife.

Allegri said that Juve "needed to be realistic", saying that Pogba would probably not play for Juve until January after rejoining from Manchester United in the close season.

Pogba was a star performer in 2018 when France were crowned World champions.

Juve play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba vowed Sunday to give his all to return next season at his best after a trying time both on and off the pitch.

The French 2018 World Cup winner hobbled off in the first half last Sunday on his first competitive Serie A start of the campaign.

Tests revealed a thigh problem, an unwelcome new medical issue after injury to his right knee in pre-season training forced him to miss a huge chunk of games on his return to Juve from Manchester United.

Off the pitch, he has had to contend with a multi-million euro blackmail plot involving one of his brothers, Mathias.

"The year has been very, very complicated with the problems outside football and on the pitch," he reflected on Instagram.

"Off the pitch it's been really hard for me. What went on has been tough mentally. I tried to take refuge in what I love, playing football, to escape on the pitch,  but that wasn't possible because physically I've had a load of problems."

The 30-year-old, who had to sit out France's run to the World Cup final last year, continued: "I just have to be patient. Mentally, I'm a lot better."

"I've got to retain hope," he added.

"Mentally and physically I'm going to give it my all to come back at my best, to help the team win titles, that's the reason I returned here.

"I'm not going to give up."

Paul Pogba has decided not to go undergo surgery on his knee and will bank on rest and rehabilitation getting him fit in time to play for France at the World Cup finals later this year, media reports said on Wednesday.

The Juventus midfielder damaged his meniscus in one of his first training sessions with his new club late last month while they were on tour in Los Angeles.

Surgery would rule him out of the Qatar World Cup from Nov. 21-Dec. 18 and Pogba, who has 91 caps for his country, would instead opt for "conservative therapy".

Italy's Tuttosport said the regime would consist of three weeks in the gym and swimming pool then two weeks of individual work. All going well, Pogba would return in time to be able to prepare for the World Cup where France start their campaign against Australia in Doha on Nov. 22.

French sports daily L'Equipe said on Wednesday that Pogba's decision had put him on collision course with his new club, who wanted him to undergo surgery and miss the World Cup so that he could be back for them in the second part of the season.

Pogba returned to Juventus after several tumultuous seasons at Manchester United.
 

France midfielder Paul Pogba sent his team-mates a video message ahead of Sunday's showdown with Argentina.

Didier Deschamps's team are aiming to retain their World Cup trophy on Sunday when they take on Argentina in the final of Qatar 2022. Pogba, who has missed the tournament due to injury, has sent a supportive video message to Les Bleus ahead of the big match.

"Well guys. For a second time guys...in the World Cup final. And this is the second time in a row. Here, I give you all my support, all my strength," he said. "And a final, you know, you don't play it, you win it! So I wish you all the best. Good luck to you. Yes sir! Allez Les Bleus."

 France would become the first team since 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy if they can beat Argentina in the final. However, the defending champions face an Argentina side who have been inspired by Lionel Messi in Qatar.

The captain is aiming to lift the famous trophy for the first time in his career in what will be his last ever World Cup appearance.

France are in the World Cup final for the fourth time and are looking to become only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups, after Italy and Brazil.

Second-half goals by Nicolo Fagioli and Gleison Bremer earned Juventus a comfortable 2-0 win against second-bottom Cremonese in Serie A on Sunday, but the result was soured by another injury to midfielder Paul Pogba.

Pogba, who returned to Juventus last summer but has struggled with injury since, began the game well as he started a match for the first time since last April when he played for Manchester United at Liverpool.

But the Frenchman only lasted a little over 20 minutes before he injured himself again and left the field in tears, heading straight down the tunnel as he was replaced by Arkadiusz Milik.

"I needed him as an added striker," coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "In such situations you have to hope that nothing happens. Sooner or later I had to try (and start him).

"We're all sorry, he was also doing fairly well and without him we struggled to find positions. Now he'll definitely have to pause again, he felt pain."

Italian media reported that the midfielder, who also started his first Serie A game since May 2016, suffered a muscle issue.

Second-placed Juventus, who on Thursday travel to Sevilla for their Europa League semi-final second leg with the tie poised at 1-1, moved eight points clear of fifth-placed AC Milan in the battle for a top-four finish and a Champions League spot.

Allegri rotated his lineup ahead of the Europa League clash and Mattia Perin replaced Wojciech Szczesny in goal, while Alex Sandro, Fabio Miretti, Manuel Locatelli, Filip Kostic and Angel Di Maria started on the bench.

Juventus dominated their lowly opponents from the start but had little to say in front of goal in the first half, with two shots on target by Bremer and Milik saved by goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.

The Cremonese keeper was tested more after the break and could not keep out a stunning shot in the 55th minute by Fagioli, who fired the ball into the top of the net from a cross by Federico Chiesa.

Going into the game, Carnesecchi had made the most saves in the big five European leagues in 2023 (80).

Milik thought he had beaten the experienced keeper in the 74th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Yet Bremer sealed the win with a close-range header five minutes later as Juve became the first team to exceed 4,800 points in Serie A history