"Patience is not knowing how to wait, but knowing how to maintain a good attitude while waiting," philosophized the star of the Blues last week in a message on Instagram.

Always forced into tedious muscle strengthening exercises and solo races, away from his partners, Pogba thus responded to the tifosi who reproached him for having gone to the mountains during the last days of 2022.

And to those who accused him of taking risks on the snow, although we don't see the "Pioche" skiing in the photos he posted online, the player responded in another video where he pretends to ski, hilarious: "I'm a ski pro!"

This social controversy mainly reflects one thing: the immense impatience of Bianconeri supporters to see Pogba, star rookie and first salary in the locker room according to the press (8 million euros annually), finally shine on the grass.

The return of Pogba, last summer, had aroused great enthusiasm among the "juventini", delighted to see the return of a player whose first spell at the club (2012-2016) had been punctuated by four Italian championship titles in four years.

In Doha for the Blues

But the 2018 world champion has been overtaken by a physique that has become fragile over the past three seasons at Manchester United.

With Juve, he only played half time in a pre-season friendly match at the end of July before returning to the infirmary, hit in the lateral meniscus of his right knee.

Paul Pogba (center) alongside President Emmanuel Macron and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (g), December 18, 2022 in Doha, to support the Blues in the World Cup final © Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP/Archives

He initially refused the operation recommended by the club's medical team before having to do so in early September, due to recurring pain.

Death in the soul, he had to give up the World Cup-2022, supporting the Blues from a distance before going to encourage them in Doha on December 18 during the final lost against Argentina (3-3 after extra time, 2- 4 on penalties).

Just before Christmas, the "Pioche" was able to test the ball again, but alone, without taking part for the moment in the collective sessions.

His coach Massimiliano Allegri assured last week that he could not yet say when he could count on Pogba, fueling speculation in the Italian press.

"His knee does not bother him at the moment, let's see the positive things", simply slipped "Max" Allegri, also impatient to see the return of a player he had already managed between 2014 and 2016 at Juve.

Against Nantes in C3?

The coach has ruled out any possibility that Pogba will be called up for the resumption of Serie A on Wednesday at Cremonese, where Juve will also be deprived of Dusan Vlahovic, Juan Cuadrado and Leonardo Bonucci, or even Angel Di Maria who has just returned of his post-World vacation.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the club's main objective is to count on an in-form Pogba for the Europa League play-offs against Nantes on February 16 and 23.

Paul Pogba during his official presentation for his return to Juventus, July 11, 2022 in Turin © STRINGER / ANSA / AFP / Archives

This implies a gradual return by then, to collective training first, then on the match sheets to get back into the atmosphere and finally on the field.

Several media are talking about the possibility of seeing Pogba again on a pitch against Monza on January 19 in the round of 16 of the Italian Cup.

Whatever the moment, this return will be an event: it will be Pogba's first official match since his injury with Manchester United on April 19, 2022 against Liverpool and his first with Juve since May 2016, in the Italian Cup final. - another era for the star of the Blues, who will turn 30 in March, as for the "Old Lady".

© 2023 AFP