Football can be a lonely place when you’re out of it for a while, and Paul Pogba seems to have felt the full force of it while he was serving his doping ban.
Paul Pogba was out of competitive football for nearly two years after a doping ban, and it ensured that his spell at Juventus would end with a whimper.
Now back available, Pogba is close to joining Monaco, quite a big return for a player to play UEFA Champions League football after two years out.
In the meantime, he has kept busy, as Pogba was seen with Man Utd stars recently amid rumours of a United return, which were ill-advised.
He has now gone in on his former club for their lack of support during a difficult time for him personally and professionally.
Paul Pogba of Juventus FC with closed eyes during the Serie A Tim match between Empoli FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Carlo Castellani on September 3, 2023
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Paul Pogba calls out Juventus
While Pogba was undergoing training and preparation as he ramped up his return to competitive football, one running theme was startling to witness.
Despite leaving Man Utd, that too on pretty bad terms, there was more connection of his with United than with Juventus.
Be it his training with United players or thinly coded messages about praising Amad, Pogba always seemed willing to ruffle the United fans with a hint here, a message there.
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There were no such shenanigans with the club he was actually contracted to for the first few months of his ban, and he’s now revealed why.
Speaking to TF1 channel, via Gianlucadimarzio.com, Pogba has revealed he was ‘shocked’ to see how unwelcome he was in Turin after the ban.
He said: “My children were at school near the training centre, and I walked past it every day. It was too difficult. I thought I was at war against anti-doping, not against Juventus. I asked the club for the possibility of having massages and having an athletic trainer, but I was not granted it.
“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.”
Man Utd have been an example club
It speaks volumes about United as a club that no ex-player has ever said that the club turned their backs on them once they left the building.
If a player like Pogba, who went scorched earth to be released on a free transfer, can maintain United connections while being ignored by the club he was contracted to, then nothing more needs to be said.
While he was serving his ban, Rio Ferdinand even suggested bringing him back to train at Carrington, something that wouldn’t happen at many other clubs.
There have been numerous examples of players returning to United after leaving, and it has benefitted the club at times too.
Jonny Evans came to train after leaving Leicester, and he ended his career at his boyhood club with two more trophies added to the bag.
United have done a thousand things wrong, especially since the Glazers took over, but this ethical part has been immaculate from them.
You would hardly, if ever, hear a player speak about treatment like this when United are involved.