Man Utd Transfer Was My Biggest ‘Mistake’ – Pogba

Disgraced Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been told that returning to Manchester United was his biggest “mistake”.

Following a Serie A match against Udinese in August, Pogba tested positive for increased testosterone levels, casting question on his future in professional football. A provisional suspension was imposed on September 11. Next month, he also had a positive result from a ‘B’ sample, which Juventus used to put him on the lowest wage available while they awaited the outcome of their lawsuit. Last Thursday, that was finally fulfilled when the national anti-doping body of Italy approved a proposal to give Pogba a four-year suspension, which was seen by Italy’s sport prosecutor.

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Garth Crooks, a former forward for Manchester United, feels that Pogba’s enormous talent has been wasted. The France international, who cost the Red Devils a club record £89 million ($113 million) to sign in 2016, has also said he never should have come back to Old Trafford from Juventus for a second stint. Juve re-signed Pogba on a free transfer after United allowed his contract to expire in June 2022 due to his remarkable failure to live up to that price tag.

Crooks sympathises with supporters that have kept faith in Pogba throughout his career, only to see him continually let them down. “I have been one of Pogba’s biggest critics,” he added. “Not because of his colourful hairstyles, however much I hated them, but that on too many occasions he robbed us of his genius. All football fans want to see is those who have the magic produce it when they pay to see it. Sadly the magic, all too often, simply wasn’t there. And now we feel short-changed.”

Pogba said he was “sad, shocked and heartbroken” with the final verdict on his doping case, before adding in a statement on social media: “Everything I have built in my professional career has been taken away from me.”

The World Cup winner also declared that he will file an appeal. However, should that fail, he won’t be eligible to play competitive football until 2027, when he will be 34, and the ban will be retroactive to the date of his initial test failure.