Super-agent Rafaela Pimenta made it clear that banned midfielder Paul Pogba is pushing to ‘finish a journey’ as he pushes through this ‘difficult moment’.
The 30-year-old French midfielder is still out suspended after testing positive for DHEA, a precursor hormone of testosterone which can be found in some over-the-counter medicines in the United States. His original failed doping test came in late August and his counter-analysis also returned positive.
Pogba was originally set to undergo trial at the National Anti-Doping Tribunal on January 18th, but his lawyers obtained a postponement, pushing the hearing beyond February 15th, meaning a new trial date is expected to be scheduled soon.
Speaking to Cronache di Spogliatoio via Calciomercato.com, Pimenta discussed Pogba’s mindset following his suspension and his desire to return to the football pitch.
“Pogba could return to the pitch tomorrow. He is ready for any situation, he is also a champion mentally. He takes a blow, digests it and moves on. He didn’t move forward irresponsibly, he trains knowing that he must be ready.
“Sometimes I’ll ask him: ‘Shall we do something else?’. And he’ll get angry, saying to me: ‘Rafa! I have to train. You don’t understand, I have to play, I have to win, and I have to finish a journey that I started’.
“If he were to play tomorrow, he could come on the pitch and play. Obviously, it’s a difficult moment to overcome.”
Pogba did not knowingly ingest the substance and had not informed any staff at Juventus prior to his failed doping test in late August. He did not test positive for testosterone itself, but DHEA, a precursor hormone.
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