- Pogba reveals he felt abandoned and forgotten after his doping ban.
- He says it exposed who his real friends were and taught him not to trust fair-weather people.
Former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has opened up about how dramatically his life changed after his doping scandal pushed him out of the spotlight.
Speaking in a recent interview, the French star admitted he felt abandoned and forgotten when his career hit a rough patch. According to him, once he was banned for doping, the phone calls stopped, invitations disappeared, and even those closest to him began to drift away.
“Paul Pogba, the famous guy, is no more… people started avoiding me, even friends and family,” he said.
Pogba was handed a four-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance — but the punishment was later reduced to 18 months on appeal. He insists he never knowingly took any illegal drugs and blamed the positive test on a supplement prescribed by a doctor.
The 2018 World Cup winner, who will be eligible to return to football in March 2025, said the experience has been a harsh but valuable lesson.
“This period showed me who my true friends are. It taught me never to rely on people who only show up when things are good.”
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