“I never said that I was done with football. I don’t want to stop playing. I became a victim of injustice, but I still have a chance to return. I continue to train, I still feel like a footballer. I still have a contract with Juventus. I have not yet spoken to the director and the coach – I think they are waiting for my appeal. It is necessary to maintain optimism,” Pogba said. The past year has been a tumultuous one for Paul Pogba. The French midfielder, who has had a storied career playing for some of the top clubs in Europe, found himself embroiled in a controversy that threatened to derail his professional future. It all began in the summer of 2022, when Pogba was subject to an extortion plot orchestrated by his own brother and a group of criminal associates. The details that emerged were shocking – Pogba claimed he was the victim of threats and demands for millions of euros, all while his brother Mathias publicly accused him of various misdeeds. It was a messy and highly publicized affair that cast a dark cloud over Pogba’s reputation.
Despite the scandal, Pogba maintained his focus and commitment to the game. He continued training diligently, determined to prove his worth on the pitch and clear his name off of it. Pogba had just rejoined Juventus, the club where he had previously enjoyed great success, and was eager to recapture that form. However, the legal fallout from the extortion case complicated matters. Pogba was suspended by Juventus and faced an uncertain future. Many speculated that his career was on the brink, that the damage to his image would be too great to overcome. But Pogba refused to give in to despair. “I never said that I was done with football,” he stated defiantly. “I don’t want to stop playing. I became a victim of injustice, but I still have a chance to return.” Pogba expressed confidence that he would be able to appeal the suspension and regain his place in the Juventus squad.
The midfielder revealed that he had not yet spoken directly with the club’s management, believing they were waiting for him to make the first move with an appeal. “I still have a contract with Juventus,” Pogba noted. “I think they are waiting for my appeal.” Despite the tumultuous circumstances, Pogba insisted on maintaining a positive outlook. “It is necessary to maintain optimism,” he said. “I continue to train, I still feel like a footballer.” The 29-year-old was determined to prove his doubters wrong and show that he still had the quality and passion to compete at the highest level.
Pogba’s resilience and refusal to give up on his career have been admirable. He has faced immense scrutiny and adversity, but has steadfastly refused to let it break his spirit. As he navigates the legal process and works to restore his reputation, Pogba remains focused on the pitch, training diligently and believing that he can still achieve greatness. The road ahead may be long and arduous, but Pogba’s words convey a sense of determination and self-belief that suggest he is far from finished. “I never said that I was done with football,” he declared. Those words serve as a powerful reminder that Pogba is a fighter, a player unwilling to let his career be defined by a single moment of crisis. With the right support and a fair judicial process, many believe Pogba can still write an inspiring final chapter to his storied career.
Recall that in August of last year, the French midfielder tested positive for a banned substance. On February 29, the anti-doping court upheld the decision to suspend the player for four years. After the court made the decision to suspend Pogba, he filed an appeal. The news of Pogba’s positive doping test came as a major shock to the football world. The charismatic midfielder, who had established himself as one of the game’s most influential and dynamic players, was suddenly facing a career-defining crisis.
The details surrounding the positive test were murky, with Pogba and his representatives maintaining that the finding was the result of tainted supplements or medication. However, the anti-doping authorities stood firm, insisting that the rules had been violated and that a substantial suspension was warranted. When the anti-doping court upheld the four-year ban on February 29th, it sent shockwaves through the sport. Many were stunned that a player of Pogba’s caliber could face such a lengthy sanction, effectively ending his career in its prime. The decision was seen by some as overly harsh, given the ambiguities in the case. But Pogba was not ready to go quietly. Immediately after the ruling, he announced that he would be appealing the decision. “I will fight this suspension with all my might,” he declared. “I am innocent, and I will prove it.”
The appeal process now represents Pogba’s last chance to salvage his career. He and his legal team will be working tirelessly to poke holes in the anti-doping case, searching for any technicalities or mitigating factors that could lead to a reduced sentence. The stakes could not be higher for the midfielder. A four-year ban would effectively end his time at the top level of the game. At 29 years old, Pogba would be 33 by the time the suspension is completed – an age where most players are contemplating retirement, not trying to resurrect their careers. Yet those who know Pogba best believe he has the strength of character to pull off an against-the-odds comeback. Throughout his tumultuous career, the Frenchman has demonstrated an unshakable self-belief and determination to overcome adversity. “Paul has always been a fighter,” said one former teammate. “When his back is against the wall, that’s when he seems to produce his best performances. I wouldn’t count him out just yet.”
Indeed, Pogba has defied the odds before. After a difficult spell at Manchester United, he engineered a high-profile return to Juventus, rediscovering his world-class form. Now, he faces an even greater challenge – to prove his innocence and salvage a career that appears to be hanging by a thread. The appeal process will be closely watched by football fans around the world. Many will be rooting for Pogba to somehow find a way to beat the suspension and resume his place among the game’s elite. It would be a remarkable comeback story, the kind that could cement his legacy as one of the most resilient and talented midfielders of his generation. For now, the future remains uncertain. But if there is one thing that is certain about Paul Pogba, it is that he will leave no stone unturned in his quest to clear his name and return to the pitch. The fight has only just begun.
