Paul Pogba has found himself at a crossroads as an injury now forces him to decide if he’s willing to miss the World Cup in order to undergo a knee operation, a decision his compatriot Samuel Umtiti was once forced to make.
Pogba suffered the injury during a training session with Juventus last week, and whilst initial indications suggested that he’d only be out for around two months, now it seems as if he could be forced to undergo meniscus surgery, which would leave him sidelined until 2023.
The Frenchman now has an incredibly difficult decision to make. Will he undergo an operation in order to try and resolve the issue long-term or take less serious measures now to allow him to take part in the upcoming World Cup.
It’s not an easy choice, something Umtiti learnt the hard way. The French defender famously suffered from knee issues in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup but choose to compete instead of remaining sidelined from the tournament. Whilst he did lift the trophy, his career has been majorly derailed since, with injuries endlessly plaguing him.
Should the tests confirmed the need for a meniscus operation, Pogba will be forced to make a decision. Juventus are pushing for the safer option, predictably, but the allure of the World Cup may prove too tempting to resist.