By Emeka Blast 
Pogba Reflects on Loneliness After Four-Year Ban: ‘My Fame Was All They Wanted’
Former Manchester United and Juventus star Paul Pogba has revealed the profound personal toll of his four-year football ban, sharing a heart-wrenching account of how his fame, friendships, and even his marriage crumbled during his time away from the sport. In an emotional interview, the 32-year-old midfielder, who recently signed a two-year contract with AS Monaco, spoke candidly about the isolation he faced after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a banned substance, in August 2023.
“I realized how empty and meaningless life was when I was banned from football for four years,” Pogba said. “Immediately I stopped being Pogba the rich, famous player, people started avoiding me. The worst thing, which still breaks my heart today, was even my own wife abandoned me. Everyone who used to invite me to their fashion events and stuff like that said: ‘Pogba is of no use now.’”
Pogba’s doping ban, initially set at four years by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (NADO Italia), was reduced to 18 months in October 2024 following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ruled the ingestion was unintentional. The ban, which sidelined him until March 2025, forced Pogba to confront the fragility of relationships built on his status as a global football icon. “That was a good sit back for me to see my true friends,” he continued. “And my wife proved she never loved me. But I’m very happy now because my phone doesn’t ring with fake friends again. I now know I’m on my own in life.”
The 2018 World Cup winner, who signed with Monaco in June 2025, broke down in tears during the contract announcement, describing his return to football as “la renaissance.” His emotional response reflected the toll of a turbulent period marked by injuries, a doping scandal, and personal betrayals, including an alleged extortion attempt by his brother Mathias in 2022. Pogba’s contract with Juventus was mutually terminated in November 2024, paving the way for his move to Ligue 1, where he aims to revive his career and push for a return to the French national team.
Posts on X echoed public sympathy for Pogba’s ordeal, with @TheNairobiTimez sharing his quote about his wife’s abandonment, sparking discussions about the fleeting nature of fame. @Pep_Boxx wrote, “Pogba revealed the pain of feeling abandoned and isolated after his football ban, showing how losing fame exposed fragile relationships.” However, these claims remain unverified, and Pogba’s wife, Zulay, has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Pogba’s story has resonated widely, shedding light on the pressures of celebrity. “Most times, people are just drawn to you because of your success,” he reflected. “Don’t live your life trying to please others because no one actually cares.” As he prepares for his competitive return with Monaco, Pogba’s focus is on reclaiming his passion for the game. “I will appreciate the game more than before because it was taken away from me.
