A new muscle injury will force Paul Pogba to the sidelines for a month and Lorenzo Bettoni analyses the five steps that have turned the Frenchman’s return to Allianz Stadium into a nightmare.

“Paul Pogba suffered a low-grade tear to his right thigh adductor. He has already started with the rehabilitation process aimed at resuming competitive activity,” Juventus said in an official statement on Monday.

The Frenchman has only played two games since his return from Manchester United, but what has gone wrong for the ex-Red Devil? It’s been a mix of poor decisions and bad luck and it all started weeks after he had signed a four-year deal worth €8m plus add-ons, seeing him return to Turin as a free agent for the second time in his career.

The Frenchman suffered a tricky meniscus injury during the pre-season which, according to Juventus doctors, should have been treated with surgery. However, the 29-year-old decided to follow conservative treatment, hoping that this would help him keep his spot in the France squad for the Word Cup.

It didn’t happen because the treatment didn’t work out, so Pogba had to undergo surgery in September, wasting a month of potential recovery. He didn’t join his compatriots in Qatar, remaining in Turin to continue treatment.

He seemed to be finally ready at the end of January when he was called up for his first competitive match of the campaign against Monza. Eventually, he was not introduced in a 2-0 loss at the Allianz Stadium and just to make things worse, he sustained a new flexor injury a few days later, right before a Coppa Italia clash against Lazio in Turin.

“It takes time for Pogba, nobody can work miracles,” said Allegri at a pre-match press conference at that time.

“His body must adapt. We must use him wisely and at the right moment when he will be fit.”

Pogba eventually made his debut only a couple of weeks ago, coming off the bench in a 4-2 win over city rivals Torino on February 28. The ex-Manchester United midfielder made his second appearance away at Roma, also as a substitute the following week, and when he appeared almost ready to start, he was punished by the club and the coach for arriving late at the club’s hotel before a Europa League clash against Freiburg last week.

“He arrived late, and players, especially the most important ones, must respect the rules. It was correct not to include him in the team and fine him,” said Juventus CFO Francesco Calvo last week.

Pogba resumed training with the team the day after a 1-0 win against the Germans, but it didn’t last long. He was not included in the squad for Sunday’s 4-2 win over Sampdoria at the Allianz Stadium and the tear to his right thigh adductor means he will remain out of action for another month.

Pogba was in no mood to sign autographs for Juventus fans after the exams saying: “Sorry, my head’s not in it.”

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