By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Allegri lamentsloss of Pogba due to doping ban.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri expressed deep sadness over Paul Pogba’s doping ban, emphasizing the loss of an exceptional talent for football. Pogba received a four-year ban from Italy’s anti-doping tribunal after testing positive for testosterone earlier this season, casting a shadow over his playing career.
Allegri, speaking to reporters ahead of Juve’s Serie A clash with Napoli, described Pogba as an extraordinary player and highlighted the difficulty in finding talents like him. He reminisced about coaching Pogba and praised him as a fantastic individual.
While Allegri conveyed his support to Pogba, who plans to appeal the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), he refrained from discussing the ongoing legal proceedings.
Pogba, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, faced setbacks at Juventus since his return from Manchester United in 2022, including injuries and now the doping ban. His representatives attributed the positive test to a prescribed food supplement from a US doctor.
If upheld by CAS, the ban would sideline Pogba until the 2027/28 season, when he would be 34 years old. This development adds to his challenges, having endured a difficult first season back at Juve and missing France’s World Cup campaign due to injury.
In addition to the doping ban, Pogba is embroiled in a separate investigation in France involving an extortion attempt against him in March 2022. The incident saw intruders hold him captive in his Paris home, demanding a ransom of 13 million euros.
Allegri, Pogba, Doping Ban