Paul Pogba has been left out of France’s squad for the Nations League games against Sweden and Croatia after testing positive for coronavirus.
The news was confirmed by France head coach Didier Deschamps after he announced the squad for the games, with Pogba’s place being taken by 17-year-old Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
Deschamps said: “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.”
A Manchester United statement 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.”
France are scheduled to play Sweden in Solna on September 5 and Croatia in Paris on September 8.
Pogba will have to self-isolate for a period of 14 days, which would rule him out of France’s games in the period but mean he is available for selection when Manchester United begin their Premier League season against Crystal Palace on September 19.
Chelsea’s pre-season preparations have also been disrupted, with a number of players in quarantine after returning from their summer break.
A group of the club’s first-team squad are following government guidelines on self-isolation.
Chelsea are back in training and building towards the new Premier League season, with Frank Lampard’s team facing Brighton at the Amex Stadium on September 14.
Sky Sports News has approached Chelsea for comment.
Chelsea will have high hopes for the new season, having already added four new signings with the arrival of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Xavier Mbuyamba.
Bayer Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz could also join this summer, with former PSG defender Thiago Silva set to complete his Chelsea medical on Thursday ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge.
After undergoing his medical in Milan, Silva is then expected to fly from Italy to London on Friday to begin a 14-day period of self-isolation before joining up with the Chelsea squad.
Source: Sky Sports
