Juventus player and French international, Paul Pogba (30), received a four-year football ban at the conclusion of last month due to a positive test for testosterone. Immediately following the announcement, the midfielder expressed his intention to appeal the suspension, asserting that the ingestion of the substance was unintentional.
In a recent interview with Téléfoot, various past and present teammates of La Pioche from the French national team came to his defense. Adrien Rabiot, Pogba’s colleague both at club and international levels, described the locker room as “devastated by the news,” while Adil Rami characterized it as “a setback for French football and the sport in its entirety.” Rio Mavuba, who was part of Deschamps’ squad for the 2014 World Cup, voiced his unwavering belief in Pogba’s sincerity, suggesting that he may have been misled.
As Pogba awaits the verdict of his appeal, the football community reflects on the unfortunate turn of events in the career of a player who was anticipated to be one of the premier talents of his generation.