Why has Massimiliano Allegri banished Paul Pogba from the Juventus squad?

It’s been a season to forget for Paul Pogba at Juventus and it shows no signs of getting better any time soon. The Frenchman hadn’t played a single minute of soccer for the Italian giants until the end of February because of a knee injury but came off the bench in the win over Torino and the defeat to Roma in the last couple of weeks. Thursday’s Europa League tie against German side Freiburg would have seen him make his second European debut for the club but it has been revealed that he will not now take any part in the game.

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Allegri unhappy with Pogba

Not that his absence has anything to do with physical issues. Juve head coach Massimiliano Allegri has opted not to include the midfielder in his matchday squad for the game because of disciplinary reasons. Pogba was late in arriving to the team’s camp on the eve of the match and has suffered the consequences of his poor timekeeping. Young Argentine midfielder Enzo Barrenechea, who started in the derby against Torino on 28 February, is again in contention to be involved.

Pogba: two spells at United, two at Juve

Pogba’s first spell at Juventus, between 2012 and 2016, was hugely successful. After joining the club on a free transfer from Manchester United, he won four Serie A titles in four seasons, two Coppa Italias and two Italian Super Cups, as well as helping the team reach the Champions League final in 2015. After rejoining the Red Devils for a reported fee of €105 million, he again signed for the Old Lady for nothing last summer but has so far been unable to make any kind of impact in his second spell.