Paul Pogba has revealed he would have quit football altogether if his four-year ban for doping had been upheld.

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• Pogba was handed four-year ban
• Suspension reduced after lengthy appeal
• Still searching for a new club

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pogba was handed an initial four-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance – dehydroepiandrosterone – following Juventus' clash with Udinese in 2023. That suspension was reduced, however, after a lengthy appeal process. Now, the former Manchester United midfielder has revealed that considered retirement when the initial suspension was handed out.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pogba is now eligible to play, but he has yet to sign for a new club after leaving Juventus. He has been linked with a variety of clubs, and has been touted for moves to Saudi Arabia and MLS.

• WHAT POGBA SAID

  Pogba told GQ France: "If they'd given me four years, I would have quit football. I didn't want to say it publicly but that's what I was thinking.

  "I didn’t understand. Why? They handed down the maximum sentence. That meant they hadn’t listened to a single thing I’d said.”

  Despite being allowed to play once again, the 32-year-old says he has been left "changed", adding: “I saw what real life is. It worked on me like a full reset. I aged ten years in one go.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Pogba is weighing his next move, but admits he cannot wait to start playing again.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News