'I would have quit football!' – Paul Pogba reveals doping ban almost led him to retire before suspension was reduced as he continues hunt for new club

Paul Pogba has revealed he would have quit football altogether if his four-year ban for doping had been upheld.

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• Pogba was handed four-year ban
• Suspension reduced after lengthy appeal
• Still searching for a new club

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pogba was handed an initial four-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance – dehydroepiandrosterone – following Juventus' clash with Udinese in 2023. That suspension was reduced, however, after a lengthy appeal process. Now, the former Manchester United midfielder has revealed that considered retirement when the initial suspension was handed out.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pogba is now eligible to play, but he has yet to sign for a new club after leaving Juventus. He has been linked with a variety of clubs, and has been touted for moves to Saudi Arabia and MLS.

• WHAT POGBA SAID

  Pogba told GQ France: "If they'd given me four years, I would have quit football. I didn't want to say it publicly but that's what I was thinking.

  "I didn’t understand. Why? They handed down the maximum sentence. That meant they hadn’t listened to a single thing I’d said.”

  Despite being allowed to play once again, the 32-year-old says he has been left "changed", adding: “I saw what real life is. It worked on me like a full reset. I aged ten years in one go.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Pogba is weighing his next move, but admits he cannot wait to start playing again.