Paul Pogba did not feel supported by Juventus during his eighteen-month doping suspension. In an interview with French outlet TF1, the 32-year-old midfielder expressed his dissatisfaction.
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Paul Pogba has broken his silence on what he describes as the most painful period of his professional life his 18-month doping suspension.
In a deeply emotional interview with French broadcaster TF1, the 32-year-old midfielder opened up about feeling abandoned by Juventus, the club where he once rose to stardom and to which he returned in hopes of relaunching his career. Instead of support, Pogba says he was left alone during a time when he needed his club the most.
The suspension stemmed from a routine drug test following a Serie A match in August 2023. The test revealed elevated levels of testosterone a banned substance. Initially, Pogba was handed a four-year ban from professional football, a decision that sent shockwaves through the footballing world and seemed to signal a premature end to a career that had once promised so much. However, after a legal appeal and further review, the sentence was reduced to 18 months, giving the French international a real chance of returning to top-level football.
During his suspension, Pogba did everything in his power to stay fit and focused. Yet, as he revealed in the interview, that process was made significantly harder by what he perceived as a lack of backing from Juventus. “I asked for a fitness coach,” Pogba said. “Not because I wanted special treatment, but because I was still under contract, still part of the team. I had the right to maintain my physical condition. But let’s just say Juventus didn’t support me. That really hurt.”
What stung Pogba the most wasn’t the doping case itself which he insists was never an intentional act of cheating but the isolation he felt from the club. “I didn’t understand why,” he said. “I thought my fight was with the anti-doping authorities. I didn’t expect Juventus to turn their back on me. That part really broke me.”
The emotional toll was immense. Pogba described the daily pain of driving his children to school and passing the Juventus Stadium and training facilities places that once represented joy, pride, and success. “My kids would ask me every day, ‘Papa, when will you play again? When can we see you on the pitch?’ I didn’t have the answers. That helplessness was the worst feeling.”
Despite the adversity, Pogba insists he never gave up. He spent the long months of suspension not only working on his body but also on his mind. He says the time away from the game allowed him to rediscover his love for football and rekindle the passion that had once driven him to global stardom. “I’m ready now mentally, physically, emotionally. I’ve had time to reflect, to rebuild. I’m 32, but I feel like a kid again. I’m hungry. I want to play. I need to play.”
As he eyes a comeback, AS Monaco appears to be the club most interested in giving Pogba a fresh start. Reports suggest advanced discussions between the two parties, and for Pogba, a move back to Ligue 1 where he started his senior career before becoming a global name at Manchester United and Juventus could provide the perfect environment to rebuild. Monaco, known for giving talented players a second chance, might be exactly what he needs.
More than just returning to the field, Pogba wants to prove to himself and to the world that he’s not done. “This is not about revenge or proving people wrong,” he said. “It’s about proving to myself that I can come back stronger. That I can end my story on my own terms not as a player who faded away in controversy, but as someone who fought back.”
The footballing world will be watching. If Pogba does return to top-flight football, it will be more than just a personal victory it will be a story of resilience, redemption, and the unbreakable bond between a man and the game he loves.
Updated: 11:10, 23 Jun 2025
