Ralf Rangnick Believes Paul Pogba's Injury May Make it Unlikely for Him to Play this Season

The 29-year-old France midfielder will finish his tenure at Old Trafford this summer but ten minutes into Tuesday's 4-0 defeat by Liverpool, he was struck down by a calf injury that might complicate things for him. Pogba is expected to be discharged in "four weeks minimum", and the Red Devils will play their last game of the season at Crystal Palace on May 22, 2022. 

In response to a question about Pogba's current predicament, the German replied: "The doctor told me it will take four weeks minimum for him to recover and the last game is the end of May. I don't think that it is very likely that he will be able to play again." He continued, "As it seems right now, he will not renew his contract. Maybe the club or Erik [ten Hag, United's new manager] will also not want to renew the contract, I don't know, but it's most likely he won't be here anymore next season."

Man Utd Needs Its Best Players

Pogba stepped into Old Trafford before joining Juventus in 2012 and returned to Manchester United for a second spell at a whopping fee of £89million in 2016. In this second run, Pogba scored 39 goals in 226 appearances, helping them win the League Cup and Europa League in 2017. United now have to compete in five Premier League games taking off with a trip to Arsenal on Saturday. 

Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Scott McTominay are expected to return. The Portugal forward Ronaldo delivered a hat-trick in last Saturday's 3-2 win over Norwich but was obligated to skip Tuesday's game at Liverpool after the ill-timed passing of his baby boy on April 18. The 37-year-old was offered subsequent leave, but he returned to training earlier this week and Rangnick declared he is in contention to compete at the Emirates.

On Thursday the club revealed that Ajax coach Erik ten Hag will become United's permanent manager at the end of the season. "Obviously I told [the club's board], at least from what I have seen and known from people who had worked with Erik, that I think he would be a good choice," said Rangnick, who will take up a consultancy role at Old Trafford. "I still believe that he is a very good choice."

Utd Gearing Up for Their Last Five Games

United's final game of the season will be held at Crystal Palace on May 22, 2022, which implies that the France footballer is looking at a possible end to his six-year spell at Old Trafford. Their upcoming showdown with the Gunners might determine the fourth position in the rankings. United stand in the sixth position in the Premier League, three points behind Arsenal and Tottenham but have played one game more than the top four clubs.