Pogba: ‘I’d give up money for Juventus, feel like a caged lion’ | OneFootball

Paul Pogba has given a series of interviews where he explained the ‘mistake’ behind a failed doping test, why he is ‘ready to give up money to play for Juventus’ and felt ‘like a caged lion.’

The midfielder was given an initial four-year ban after he failed a standard Serie A doping test at the start of last season.

He lodged an appeal, which was partially accepted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the ban was reduced to 18 months.

It means Pogba will be available to return from March 2025, but it remains to be seen whether it will be at Juventus, as the club is considering a termination by mutual consent.

“It will be a new Pogba: hungrier, wiser and stronger,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I trained alone with staff this year and am ready to get back to normality in 2025. I have only one desire: to play football.

“The love of the fans was never lacking. I couldn’t have contact with the Juve players due to legal issues, but many teammates past and present showed support. Juan Cuadrado called every two days and made me laugh. Dybala sent a lot of messages, then Vlahovic, McKennie, Weah, Kean…”

New coach Thiago Motta has hinted he does not see Pogba being a part of his team going forward.

“I have not been able to talk to him, but that moment will come,” assured the player.

“I am focusing on getting ready and playing with Juve. I am currently a Juve player and that is all I have in my mind today.

“I do my talking on the pitch and then Thiago Motta can judge with his own eyes, based on what he sees. Talk is nice, but I want to play for Juve and to be the best for France too.”

Would he be prepared to give up some of his jewellery for the opportunity to play at least a minute with the Bianconeri?

“I am ready to give up money to play for Juve. I want to return.”

Juventus looking beyond Pogba already

EMPOLI, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 3: Paul Labile Pogba of Juventus looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Empoli FC and Juventus at Stadio Carlo Castellani on September 3, 2023 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

There was already a sign before the ban that Pogba was being pushed aside, as the Number 10 jersey went to Kenan Yildiz.

“It is not my number, it is Juve’s number! When I returned to Manchester United in 2016, it’s not like I took the 10 with me. I told Kenan he has talent and he deserves that shirt. I could tell from the first training sessions that he was different.

“Juventus did well to focus on the present, as I had a four-year ban, so of course they gave the 10 to Kenan.”

Considering the difficulties of the last year, including the court case around his brother and former friends who allegedly tried to extort money in Paris, did Pogba let his head drop?

“It has been a very difficult year, but the thing that hurt the most was going past the stadium and the Continassa training ground every day to take my kids to school, without being able to go in to train or play with Juventus.

“I felt like a caged lion. At one point I wanted to leave Italy with my family, because the situation hurt too much.”

When it came to the original sin of taking that vitamin supplement, it was provided to him by someone outside of Juventus when he was training during pre-season in America.

“He was a professional. Like many players, I have a personal chef, fitness coach and physiotherapist, that was the situation in Manchester too. It wasn’t about reading the label, it was given to me by a professional outside the club. But I will not repeat that mistake again, that is for sure.”

Pogba was asked if he regretted the decision to postpone meniscus surgery, as he had been attempting to be ready for France at the 2022 World Cup.

“It was not my decision alone, we took that path together on the advice of doctors. I don’t regret anything, that is life.”