Eric Patrick
French football star Paul Pogba has spoken candidly about the isolation and emotional toll he experienced during his 18-month suspension from football, revealing that many people turned their backs on him.
The former Manchester United midfielder was banned for a doping violation while playing for Juventus, a setback that not only sidelined him from professional football but also led to the immediate termination of his contract with the Italian club.
Speaking in a recent interview with the UK-based Daily Mail, Pogba, 32, described how isolating the experience was and commended his wife for her unwavering support.
“People were avoiding me and my wife. My wife was the one cheering me up during that difficult period,” the 32-year-old said.
“My phone stopped ringing like it used to and people stopped calling me for events. I can’t stop praising my wife for what she did then, even as we had the job of parenting our children.”
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Pogba, who won the World Cup with France in 2018 reflected on the emotional weight of the situation, saying it gave him a clearer picture of who truly supported him.
“It was a painful time, but it showed me who was really there for me,” he added.
Pogba is set to return to professional football in the 2025/26 season after signing with French Ligue 1 side, AS Monaco, a few days ago.