Thursday’s edition of L’Equipe has a big article on Paul Pogba and his desire to leave Manchester United this summer.
Much of the claims have been covered repeatedly during the transfer window, and the French newspaper adds the Red Devils could now look for a contract extension, with an improved salary, to somewhat kill the doubt ahead of future transfer windows.
They also have a snippet on Pogba’s recent ankle injury, picked up in the draw against Southampton. It’s explained the midfielder’s ankle was ‘seriously swollen’ after the match, however, there’s a suggestion he could have been fit enough to join up with the France squad.
As it stands, Pogba is recovering with Manchester United, yet L’Equipe state: ‘To ask him to join up at Clairefontaine (France’s national team camp) would have been possible but the speculations on his participation in the two matches of Les Bleus would have been numerous and would undoubtedly have troubled the preparation of the world champions.’
That clearly gives the impression Didier Deschamps and co didn’t relish being part of a media circus surrounding Pogba’s fitness during this international break.
Whilst it’s a strange situation for the World Cup winners, who likely shouldn’t care too much about such speculation, it’s a good sign for Manchester United.
If Pogba was potentially fit enough to join up with France, then it shows his injury situation is not one to worry too much about.
L’Equipe state Pogba’s ‘downtime should not stretch beyond eight to ten days’, and that means he’d be back for the match against Leicester City on September 14th.
