Times are tough for Paul Pogba. After this famous affair which pitted him against his brother Mathias, then an almost blank season marked by physical problems, his absence from the World Cup, a doping affair came to shake him up, he who hoped to relaunch himself during this financial year 2023/2024. The Juventus midfielder tested positive for testosterone after Turin’s first meeting this season, against Empoli. A case which could cost him two to four years of suspension, practically the end of his career given his age (30 years).
Especially since Juventus can legally terminate its contract unilaterally in the event that justice condemns Paul Pogba. The latter is already suspended from salary, and the Piedmont club would not necessarily be devastated by a suspension and termination of Pogba’s contract, which would allow it to save 10 million euros per season until 2026…
Pogba will collaborate
This Thursday, the transalpine press says more about how Paul Pogba and his entourage will defend themselves in this affair. Firstly, and as already published by the Italian media, the player will explain that he did not ingest this substance voluntarily, but that it was present in a food supplement recommended by a doctor in the United States. We learn through Corriere dello Sport that the player has until midnight this evening to request a counter-analysis, but that he may well not do so, as a sign of good faith. He would therefore be ready to accept this first positive result, and then appear before the national anti-doping court to give his version of the facts.
Above all, Pogba does not want to enter into a war with the Italian anti-doping authorities and wants to collaborate. The player wants to insist on the fact that he took the product involuntarily, and does not want to involve Juventus in this story. He also wants to highlight all the problems he’s had recently, as if he wants to somehow inspire some pity in the authorities. We also learn that in the event that justice finds mitigating circumstances for the player, he could only be sanctioned for one year, which would allow him to resume his sporting career without too many problems. To be continued…
