Paul Pogba sat in solitude, his mind heavy with thoughts that weighed more than his fame and fortune combined. “Sometimes,” he murmured, his voice heavy with introspection, “I don’t want to have money anymore.”
“I just don’t want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people, so they will love me for me – not for the fame, not for the money. Sometimes it’s tough.”
The words echoed in the quiet room, a stark contrast to the roaring crowds of the stadium. These sentiments, raw and unfiltered, spilled out during an interview with Al-Jazeera, released on a tranquil Sunday, September 10, 2023.
Little did he know, a storm awaited him the very next day. It’s been just over seven tumultuous years since Manchester United shattered transfer records to bring Pogba back into their fold.
He was a prodigy at 23, decorated with four Serie A titles and the accolade of the young player of the tournament at the World Cup.
Yet, since then, save for the glory of lifting the 2018 World Cup, Pogba’s journey has been plagued by misfortune and misunderstanding.
News of a positive test for excess non-endogenous testosterone metabolites shook the football world. If the doping violation stuck, a four-year ban loomed over Pogba’s head, a guillotine threatening to sever his career.
As he awaited the results of the B-sample, hope dwindled like a dying ember. The road ahead seemed fraught with uncertainty, a labyrinth of appeals and investigations stretching endlessly.
“Football is very beautiful, but it’s cruel,” Pogba reflected, his voice tinged with resignation. “People can forget you. You can do something great – the next day, you’re nobody.”
The irony wasn’t lost on him, the fickleness of adoration, the ephemeral nature of fame. Yet, before the world turned its back, frustration brewed within him, a tempest of unfulfilled potential.
In the halcyon days of Juventus, Pogba danced across the pitch, a maestro orchestrating symphonies of footballing brilliance. Under the tutelage of Antonio Conte and Max Allegri, he found his rhythm, his place in the cosmos of football.
But at United, the melody faltered, the harmony disrupted. His versatility became his curse, a blessing too vast for a team struggling to find its identity.
Didier Deschamps understood the delicate balance, the art of harnessing Pogba’s prowess for the greater good.
Together, they conquered the world, a testament to what could be achieved when talent met purpose. Yet, the euphoria was short-lived, a mere interlude in Pogba’s tale of tribulations.
Beyond the realm of football, shadows lurked, casting doubt upon Pogba’s narrative. Allegations of distractions, of misplaced priorities, tainted his reputation. A burglary, a kidnapping, whispers of curses woven by unseen hands – each a chapter in a saga of surreal proportions.
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As the doping saga unfolded, Pogba stood at the precipice of oblivion. The court of public opinion rendered its verdict, casting him either as a fallen hero or a misguided soul. Yet, amidst the cacophony of judgment, a lone truth lingered – the tragedy of a talent unfulfilled, a destiny unclaimed.
In the end, as the dust settled and the echoes faded, Paul Pogba remained an enigma, his story a cautionary tale etched in the annals of footballing lore.
Whether victim or villain, champion or pariah, one fact remained undeniable – his journey was a testament to the beauty and cruelty of the beautiful game.
The author is a Digital Sports Editor with eight years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital media
