Pogba suspended for alleged anti-doping offence | Banned for 4 years

matherto

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His last league title was when he was 23. He is now 30 and won one league cup during that time period. The world cup in 2018 is the only meaningful moment of the past near decade.

You have to be taking the piss to suggest that is not a waste of a career. He may as well have retired aged 25 by your logic. There has to be some relativity to the argument.
If he retired at 25 he’d probably be smart as feck tbh.

He doesn’t owe us more of a career which is the way it comes across whenever anyone says it’s a waste.

He won the World Cup. In football terms, ‘completed it mate’
 

Fortitude

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Wonder whether his sponsors will stand by him. He’s a huge profile for Adidas and plastered over massive billboards in certain parts of the world, but being banned for cheating really doesn’t look good for them.
 

Sylar

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The joke is on us for buying him back, sure. We did the right thing by not offering him an outrageous contract to stay and Juve were daft to offer him a contract to persuade him to join them.
:nervous: wish that was true
 

LawCharltonBest

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The only times I’ve known appeals not to work are when United are the ones appealing a decision

That Rio 8 month ban for missing a test is still ridiculous to me
 

lex talionis

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A brilliant start to his career of course, and he will forever be a World Cup winner, but he will also be known forever who pissed it all away thereafter.
 

2 man midfield

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What’s he done lately? He burst onto the scene at Juventus in a big way and had the potential to be the best midfielder in the world. He had similar vibes to Bellingham right now.

If you told Jude he would go onto win the carabao cup, Europa league, then get forced into early retirement at 30 because of a doping ban, I doubt he’d be putting any bunting up.

The World Cup was a good achievement, granted. Maybe waste of potential is more accurate.
 

Red Royal

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As many have said he had the physique and talent that should have made him a great player, unfortunately something always seemed to be missing perhaps the dedication and/or the drive to succeed.
Oh well, I am sure he will be fine into retirement and whatever career path he chooses going forward.
 

RoyH1

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4 years? That's a really long ban. What kind of unobtanium was he shooting? The italian anti-doping tribunal is really not phecking around.

Waste of talent.
 

Infra-red

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Looking at his career stats, he hasn't really played much football since he was about 27 (last time he made more than 20 league appearances (starts + subs) was the 2020/21 season) and this punishment surely means early retirement for him. A hugely disappointing signing for us (and Juve the second time around) and I'm not really a fan, but it is a sad waste of talent.
 

matherto

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What’s he done lately? He burst onto the scene at Juventus in a big way and had the potential to be the best midfielder in the world. He had similar vibes to Bellingham right now.

If you told Jude he would go onto win the carabao cup, Europa league, then get forced into early retirement at 30 because of a doping ban, I doubt he’d be putting any bunting up.

The World Cup was a good achievement, granted. Maybe waste of potential is more accurate.
Potential to do what though?

He won the ultimate trophy in football and won it by being an integral part. He got to the final of the Euros too.

He’s won multiple league titles, domestic cups and the Europa League whilst making a CL final where he couldn’t really have done much more against a great Barcelona team.

Played all over the world for two big teams and for his country in major tournaments, given brilliant performances and moments of quality as befitting his talent

I don’t know what more people expect really.

I don’t like the guy but he pretty much completed football. Can retire with a load of money and probably do some punditry or something else as he’s a ‘character’ off the pitch.
 

BorisManUtd

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Majority of his career has been away from there, it's a shame.
True, could've won more with them if he stayed. But at least it's not totally wasted talent, like say Ravel Morrison. Also winning World Cup is probably best and favorite achievement for most players so he did that as well. I think he won exactly right amount of trophies given his talent on one side, and attitude and workrate on other side.
 

matherto

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Kinda meaningless if he’s been doping to achieve those titles.
Pretty meaningless anyway in the grand scheme of things. He kicked a ball of air around for 90 minutes most days and got rich, he’s not cured cancer or anything has he?
 

matherto

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For his career not to have fallen off a cliff when he should be in his prime.

I bet Pogba himself so expected a lot more from his late 20s career.
Eh, not like he can look back on his career with too much regret when he’s cleaning his medals in his massive house is it?
 

saivet

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I don't think there is much "what if" with him as he still played at a high level for his entire 20s. Even if Pogba had reached the heights he supposedly should have, I don't think he'd have dragged a dysfunctional United to a league title.
Agreed, I think ultimately our expectations of him were simply too high. A talented player but with flaws in his game and unrealistic expectations.
 

duffer

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Bans for this kind of cheating are so ridiculously out of sync with other bad behaviours. 4 years?

Toney got 8 months and he bet on his own team to lose. That should've been a life ban.
 

Lay

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4 years seems excessive. I was expecting at most, 2.
 

Unam333

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Biggest waste of potential ever. In truth if we're being honest he made a horrible career move rejoining us.
In hindsight an awful career decision, but hey, he had the chance to leave United several times, yet he stayed put, because he was probably happy with his salary. He even wanted to extend his United contract.
 

Desert Eagle

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What a damn shame. Somehow i don't think he'd knowingly cheat. His talent was more technical than physical. Let's see when all the facts come out.
 

RedinIndia

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Juventus don't end up losing too much as they don't have to pay Pogba his full salary.

I imagine they will rip up his contract now.

The biggest loser in this has to be Pogba.
 

Hammondo

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In hindsight an awful career decision, but hey, he had the chance to leave United several times, yet he stayed put, because he was probably happy with his salary. He even wanted to extend his United contract.
Well when he left us on a free it's not like there was a fight to get him.