Juventus player and French international Paul Pogba (30) was banned from football for four years at the end of last month following a positive test for testosterone.
In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, the midfielder pledged to appeal the suspension, claiming to have taken the substance by accident.
Speaking to Téléfoot last weekend, several of La Pioche‘s Équipe de France teammates past and present spoke in defence of the Parisian native. Adrien Rabiot, Pogba’s teammate for club and country, claimed the dressing room was “Devastated by the news”, whilst Adil Rami claimed it was “A waste for French football and football as a whole”. Rio Mavuba, who made Deschamps’ squad for the 2014 World Cup, claimed that he was “In no doubt about Paul’s sincerity and I think he may have been somewhat tricked too”.
As Pogba awaits the outcome of the appeal, the football world is left to lament the sad denouement for of the career of a player that should have been one of the very best of his generation.
GFFN | Jack McArdle