Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba tested for coronavirus, AFP reported Thursday.
Pogba has been out of the France squad announced Thursday for next month’s League of Nations matches against Sweden and Croatia, coach Didier Deschamps said.
World champion Pogba has been replaced by teenager Eduardo Camavinga, who first called with Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar and RB Leipzig defenseman Dayot Upamecano.
“Unfortunately, he had a check (Wednesday) that turned out to be positive this morning,” Deschamps said of Pogba’s absence from the team.
United showed news of the 27-year-old on his website.
Pogba was replaced on the team after positive for COVID-19. The midfielder will not be able to climb to his 69 games and 10 goals for his country in next month’s matches. Everyone at United wishes Paul a quick recovery before the new season,” the club said.
According to Opta statisticians, Camavinga, at 17 years and nine months old, could be the youngest player in France since World War II and also the first player to appear for Les Bleus born in the 2000s.
“It has to make it an integral component of this equipment faster or later,” Deschamps said.
Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has been called up for the first time in more than two years after refusing to be on the waiting list for the 2018 World Cup.
“He was returned to a very intelligent level. You can’t go back, I’m not the one who likes to make radical decisions. It remained selectable,” Deschamps said.
Blaise Matuidi, 33, was overlooked after David Beckham’s recent move to Inter Miami from Major League Soccer while Deschamps explored more youthful features in midfield.
Meanwhile, Anthony Martial is online for his first international match in France since March 2018 after scoring 23 in his career for United last season.
Kylian Mbappé, one of Paris Saint-Germain’s two players alongside defender Presnel Kimpembe, both began their last Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich in Lisbon last weekend.
However, Paris-born Kingsley Coman, who scored Bayern’s winning goal in his 1-0 win, will have a prolonged break, as will teammates Corentin Tolisso and Benjamin Pavard.
Left-back Lucas Hernandez, used sparingly at Bayern Portugal, has been retired.
France will travel to Sweden for their first League of Nations match on September 5 before returning home to face Croatia 3 days later. His last foreign match was the 2-0 win over Albania on 17 November.
Pogba, who is at the center of the moving rumours during the off-season, is expected to remain at Manchester United before the new season. His agent said Sunday that the French midfielder was part of United’s plans, adding that he was lately discussing a contract extension with the Premier League club.
Mino Raiola told Italian broadcaster Sky Sport that 27-year-old Pogba “is still at the center of a technical project. “
Raiola added that he is discussing “stress-free” the renewal of Pogba’s Contract at United, which is lately due next summer.
“Manchester United have never sought to open negotiations to sell in recent years,” he said.
(With AFP inputs)
Team:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham / ENG), Mike Maignan (Lille), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton / ENG), Leo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern / GER), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Clement Lenglet (Barcelona / ESP), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid / ESP), Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig / GER), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid / ESP)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea / ENG), Steven Nzonzi (Rennes), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus / ITA), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham / ENG)
Forwards: Houssem Aouar (Lyon), Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea / ENG), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona / ESP), Jonathan Ikone (Lille), Anthony Martial (Manchester United / ENG), Kylian Mbappe (PSG) ))