After long months of waiting, analysis and legal proceedings, the verdict finally came. Like a cleaver even. While a two-year suspension was expected following his positive doping test during the match against Udinese on August 23, and this based on discussions with the various Italian jurisdictions to show his good faith, Paul Pogba finally received a 4-year ban from competition! At 30, this is a huge shift in his career.
This suspension perhaps even marks the end of his professional adventure, he who was already plagued by numerous injuries in recent seasons. Since his return to the Bianconeri in the summer of 2022, he will have only played 12 small matches (113 minutes of play in total – 1 assist). Obviously this positive test for testosterone put an abrupt end to his return to competition since he was sidelined from the professional group, accompanied by a minimum salary (around 2000 euros per month). Pogba will still appeal this decision, letting time slip through his fingers again.
Allegri’s great sorrow
While awaiting this new judgment, Juventus, which had still not communicated on the subject, spoke at Max Allegri’s press conference. “I wrote him a message two days ago about what happened. First of all, on a human level, I am really sorry. And from a football point of view, we are losing an extraordinary player, football is losing an extraordinary player. I had the chance to work with him, to train him, players like him are difficult to find. I will not comment on the verdict, there are competent courts but on a human level, I am really sorry because Paul is a very good guy”, says the Turin coach, on the eve of the clash against Naples. Last January, he bluntly announced the end of the player’s career.
It remains to be seen what the Old Lady will do once the appeal decision is decided. According to the Italian press, the decision to terminate his contract has already been made. Even if the sanction were reduced to two years, it seems unlikely that the Piedmontese club would wait another year and a half for the potential end of the suspension. If this is indeed confirmed at 4 years, the hypothesis becomes downright far-fetched. The Frenchman would then be deprived of competition until September 10, 2027… On that date, he will no longer be a Juve player anyway. His contract currently runs until 2026.
