Manchester United and France midfielder Paul Pogba has tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus. The coach of France’s national team, Didier Deschamps announced this today, August 27, 2020.
The Manchester United star who has been enjoying his holiday since his club was knocked out of the Europa League semi-final by Sevilla, the eventual winners of the competition, was expected to feature in France team that will face Sweden on 5 September 2020 and Croatia on 8 September 2020 in the 2020-2021 European Nations League. As protocol demanded, he had to undergo a routine coronavirus test which returned positive.
Based on international medical protocols, Paul Pogba would have to self-isolate for two weeks which means that he would not be available during the two international matches.
Hence, the coach of the country’s national team, Deschamps, had no choice than to leave him out of the squad due to the coronavirus infection. The FIFA World Cup-winning football star has been replaced by 17-year-old Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
“I had to make a last-minute change to this list because Paul Pogba was planned to be in this list but unfortunately for him, he took a test (for COVID-19) yesterday which turned out to be positive today, so at the last minute he was replaced by Eduardo Camavinga”, coach Didier Deschamps said in a statement.
Though Paul Pogba would not be available for his country in September, there is a possibility that he could be available for Manchester United‘s opening match on September 19 against Crystal Palace.
In a statement Manchester United issued after it was announced that the football star has contracted the virus, the club said: “Pogba has been replaced in the squad after testing positive for COVID-19. The midfielder will be unable to add to his 69 caps and 10 goals for his country in the games next month.
“Everybody at United wishes Paul a speedy recovery ahead of the new season.”
Here is French National Team List for the country’s matches against Sweden and Croatia without Paul Pogba:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Mike Maignan (Lille), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Léo Dubois (Lyon), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Clément Lenglet (FC Barcelona), Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Lucas Digne (Everton), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur), Houssem Aouar (Lyon), Steven Nzonzi (Rennes), Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)
Attackers: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Jonathan Ikoné (Lille)
