Paul Pogba was left ‘shocked’ by ‘unkind’ Juventus after doping ban

Paul Pogba believes that Juventus did not do enough to support him during his doping ban. 

The former Man United midfielder was handed a four-year suspension after returning an adverse drugs test, however that was later slashed to 18 months. The ban officially ended in March.

In the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s final judgement it was confirmed that Pogba did inadvertently take DHEA, a substance that boosts testosterone that is on WADA’s banned list. The ruling stated however that DHEA only has an effect on females.

Pogba left Juventus last November after the Serie A club confirmed the termination of his contract by mutual consent. And the 32-year-old has now reportedly signed a two-year deal with Monaco. 

The Parisien claims that he took ‘significant financial sacrifices’ in order to pen terms with the Ligue 1 side, in order to secure his return.

The two parties are thought to have been in discussions for several days before at last agreeing to the financials on Sunday.

And, as he nears a return to professional football, Pogba has opened up about how he was treated by Juventus during his suspension.

‘I asked Juventus for help, but I wasn’t given it,’ Pogba told TF1. 

‘I asked to get a fitness coach.I had the right, and I was always part of the team. They were not very kind to me, they did not support me, and I was shocked. I did not understand why. 

‘I thought I was at war with anti-doping authorities, not Juventus.

‘I couldn’t keep taking my kids to school every day, passing by the stadium and the training centre, and knowing I wouldn’t be able to play for a long time. My kids kept asking me when I’d be back on the pitch and when they could watch me at the stadium again.’

And Pogba, who starred in France’s World Cup triumph in 2018, insists he still has plenty to offer the game.

‘I’m mentally and physically ready, and I’m eager to start again. I’m 32, but I still feel like a kid,’ he added.