Paul Pogba: I considered retiring before doping ban reduction

Paul Pogba has revealed he considered retirement after initially being handed a four-year ban for doping, admitting that he has to be “more careful” after taking a supplement that contained a prohibited substance.

Pogba, 31, saw his ban reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on appeal earlier this month, meaning he can return to professional football in March 2025.

Asked by ESPN whether he thought he would ever play again after the first ruling in February of this year, Pogba said: “Yeah, I had many thoughts in my head, I had so many thoughts to even stop playing.

“I’m like: ‘What am I going to do?’ If it’s four years, you start making the maths in your head … Four years not playing, training — which club is going to want me? Would I be fit and stuff like that, you make a lot of pictures in your head.

“But on the other side, I had faith obviously, and I was positive. I knew I didn’t do anything wrong on purpose, so then thankfully that happened and they reduce it.”

The France midfielder tested positive for DHEA, a substance that raises testosterone levels, in August 2023 after Juventus’ opening match of the 2023-24 season against Udinese.

His last professional appearance came against Empoli on Sept. 3, 2023, before the news of his adverse test result broke.

Pogba added that the saga had made him wiser as a human being.

The 2018 World Cup-winner remained tight-lipped when asked about his club future. His team are in talks with Juventus over a contract termination that would allow him to join a new team next year in preparation for a March return.