Paul Pogba on his football career after doping aftermath that seen his suspension reduced from the initial 4 years.
Paul Pogba maintains the fact that he is not a dishonest player while speaking on his future.
The world Cup-winning midfielder was found guilty of doping after consuming a banned substance. He was provisionally handed a 4-year ban for the offence. However, the ban has now be reduced to 18 months after a long and arduous appeal process.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, he maintains he has always been a clean athlete. Pogba said: “I mean when you see me, you know me and people know me so even when all the thing happened, they were like: ‘No, for sure we know Paul, he would never take that. If he did, he didn’t know or it wasn’t on purpose.’ And this is totally the truth.
“I am an honest person and I would say it. At the end, I would say it, ‘yes I did because I felt like I need it’, and that’s not the case. This is not me. I am not a cheater. I’m someone who loves my sport, who loves the game and I would never ever. I don’t like to cheat. I like to win fairly and people know that. You see it. You see me, I am someone who is a bad loser, but I am not a cheater. That’s for sure.”
As far as his future is concerned, Pogba is under contract with Juventus until 2026. However, the Turin-based club are contemplating on terminating his contract and cut their losses with him. Pogba himself has kept mum about his future with regards to Juventus. If things pan out in the right direction, he can train with the club starting January.
Asked about returning for France, Pogba said: “That is what I hope. Of course it is in my mind for sure, but I have to be ready for that. There are players there that deserve to play and deserve to be national team. I have to win my place also in the national team again. Of course I am ready to fight.”
“Obviously I don’t want to lose the level I am at and, if I can surpass it, this is what I want,” Pogba said. “I don’t want my level to change. Still the same player with a different hunger and motivation. More and more hungry. I will appreciate the game more since the game has been taken away from me. You realise how important it is for me.
“I kind of tasted what life is after the career, kind of, so it will definitely be another Paul Pogba. Same but even more motivation to be on the pitch and play until the end of my career.”