Paul Pogba left out of France squad after testing positive for coronavirus

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been exempted from France’s squad for the Nations League games against Sweden and Croatia after testing positive for coronavirus.

France head coach, Didier Deschamps, confirmed the news after he announced the squad for the games, with Pogba’s place taken by 17-year-old Rennes midfielder, Eduardo Camavinga.

Deschamps say: “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 reads: “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.”

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France will play Sweden in Solna on 5 September and Croatia in Paris on September 8.

Pogba will have to stay in solitary isolation for a period of 14 days, which would rule him out of France’s games in the period but means he is available for selection when Manchester United begin their Premier League season against Crystal Palace on September 19.