Rewind ten years ago, Paul Pogba was arguably one of the most promising young players in the world. That is no longer true at the present time.
The Frenchman is now on his 30th birthday – the pinnacle for most pundits – but his career has gone downhill and risks a humiliating end.
Pogba, a product of the prestigious Le Havre academy, has always been a controversial figure. Two spells at Manchester United give rise to hope that Pogba will become a big star at the club. But the rebelliousness caused the player born in 1993 to leave.
Pogba has never lived up to expectations at Man Utd.
Having made a name for Juventus after leaving Old Trafford for the first time, the Red Devils decided to spend a then world-record transfer fee to secure Pogba’s services once again. Pogba helped the club win the Europa League and League Cup in his first season under Mourinho.
However, he not only shone at Old Trafford but also became an important factor in France’s 2018 World Cup winning journey. Former Les Bleus star Marcel Desailly soon saw the level of Pogba. On the eve of the tournament in Russia, he said: “Pogba is more talented than any midfielder of my generation.”
However, Pogba has never lived up to expectations at Man Utd. He had a conflict with Mourinho before finding the trust of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Solskjaer wanted the French midfielder to sign a new contract but he refused, and then leaving on a free transfer last summer took place.
Returning to Juventus, where Pogba is seen as a huge idol, things have gotten even worse for him since returning to Turin. He arrived at the club with a knee injury and forced surgery, which resulted in missing the World Cup. Juventus has also experienced a nightmare campaign. Instead of toasting him on his birthday with Champions League matches, the Old Lady is preparing for a Europa League clash against Freiburg without Pogba.
It was not until the end of February that the 30-year-old made his second Juventus debut by coming on as a substitute in a 4-2 win over Torino. Not long in the game, he was left out of the squad for Juventus’ Europa League clash with Freiburg for being late.
Pogba is going through a disastrous season.
In the latest development, Pogba is currently sidelined for a long time due to a muscle injury. Reports in Italy suggest that Juventus may be willing to cut short the four-year contract the midfielder signed if they are unable to sell the rookie this summer.
The current Pogba is no different from the clown in the eyes of the public. At its final peak in his 30s, his career is likely to crumble, despite the superior playing qualities of the number 10 Juventus.
Lu Feng | 19:20 March 16, 2023
