Paul Pogba turns 30 today and Juventus insist the Frenchman is an ‘important’ player: ‘The best gift will be his return to the pitch.’
The France international has been struggling with injuries this season, missing 34 matches and playing just 35 minutes across two Serie A matches.
He returned to Turin as a free agent last summer, but his second spell at the Allianz Stadium has turned into a nightmare.
However, Juventus confirmed that Pogba remains an important player for the team in a birthday message posted on their official website on Wednesday.
“Paul Pogba blows out 30 candles today.
“He, like all of us, would have preferred to have been celebrating as part of the squad departing for Freiburg, where tomorrow Juve play for a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, but unfortunately, it is not possible.
“So on this day we simply want to hug Paul, remind him how important he is to us, and tell him that we know that the best gift will be his return to the pitch.”
Reports in the UK in February claimed Juventus would terminate the midfielder’s contract if he hadn’t improved his physical shape. However, Bianconeri directors quickly denied that the club is considering parting ways with the Frenchman.
The Serie A giants were left disappointed by the former Manchester United star last week when he turned up late on the eve of a Europa League clash against Freiburg. Pogba was fined and left out of the team and suffered a new muscle injury only a few days later.
The 30-year-old is expected to return to action in April.