The Frenchman could have been an all-time great but made one bad decision after another, culminating in a failed drugs test
In Robert De Niro's brilliant 'A Bronx Tale', the movie's young protagonist, Calogero 'C' Anello, comes to realise, "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent, and the choices that you make will shape your life forever."
Paul Pogba is a perfect case in point. He was once the most expensive player on the planet. He should have become its best too. Italy icon Gianluigi Buffon said he used to leave Juventus' players "open-mouthed" with his mix of imposing physique and outrageous technique, while the great Ronaldinho tipped Pogba to win the Ballon d'Or.
So, when the Frenchman rejoined Manchester United in 2016, 'The Theatre of Dreams' offered him the opportunity to realise his – and yet Pogba now looks finished at the very highest level, a victim of his own dreadful decision-making.
Indeed, after seeing his career derailed by injuries and ill-discipline, it's unlikely he'll ever get back on track after being hit with a four-year ban for failing an anti-doping test.
Getty ImagesPogba's time at the top is over
The overriding emotion surrounding Thursday's news of Pogba's suspension is sadness.
One of the game's most gifted players may never play top-flight football again – and even if he does, he will never perform anything close to the level he achieved during his early years at Juventus or during his time with the France national team.
However, there is no getting away from the fact that in Turin right now there is an unmistakable air of relief.
Because it was clear even before the news broke of Pogba's failed drugs test that his best days were behind him, his colossal salary having long since become an albatross around the neck of an already cash-strapped club.
AdvertisementGettyThe beginning of the end
Back in the summer of 2022, Juve had been understandably overjoyed at managing to sign Pogba from United on a free transfer for the second time. The midfielder had jumped at the chance to start over. In reality, though, it was merely the beginning of the end of his time at the top.
Pogba continued to be plagued by injury issues. And the terrible thing was that many people believed that he only had himself to blame. In a desperate – and futile – bid to represent France at the 2022 World Cup, he decided against undergoing knee surgery at the start of August 2022, which proved a catastrophic call, as the "conservative therapy" he instead opted for ultimately did nothing but delay the requisite operation – and recovery time.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri continued to support Pogba in public but his frustration was obvious. The fans were hardly happy either. By Christmas, Pogba still hadn't made his 'second debut' for Juventus and yet he nonetheless felt compelled to post a picture of himself on a ski slope during the festive period.
At best, it was ill-advised, a clumsy failure to read the room. In the eyes of the fans, though, it screamed of a lack of respect – one of the dominant themes of Pogba's career.
Getty Images'I don't think he showed us any respect'
Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson was enraged by the way in which Pogba conducted himself during his Old Trafford exit in 2012.
Granted, part of that was down to the infamous super-agent Mino Raiola, whom Ferguson despised. The Scot admitted that they were like "water and oil" and took an immediate dislike to one another. In that sense, a parting of the ways was perhaps inevitable.
Ferguson was renowned for exerting a father-like influence on his players – which was never going to fly with Raiola, who was in possession of a prodigious talent with an expiring contract. There was more money to be made in finding a new club for his much-coveted client.
However, it's worth remembering that Ferguson also said of Pogba specifically, "I don't think he showed us any respect at all, to be honest."
Pogba was still only 19 at the time but such accusations were nothing new, given he'd left his two previous clubs, Torcy and Le Havre, in equally acrimonious circumstances.
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Getty Images'There is an agenda against Paul'
Of course, there's nothing wrong with a young player wanting to play for a bigger or better club and while it's hard not to wonder how much a teenage Pogba might have benefited from another year of Ferguson's tutelage, particularly in terms of his temperament, the biggest mistake the Frenchman made was not leaving United – but returning.
It may have been the right move in Pogba's eyes, but it was very much the wrong time.
Firstly, Juve were still on the rise. They managed to reach the 2017 Champions League final without him – but who knows what they could have accomplished if they'd held onto a prime Pogba?
Secondly, Pogba wasn't rejoining Ferguson's United – but Jose Mourinho's, and while the outspoken Portuguese publicly supported Pogba throughout their first season together, the pair's relationship deteriorated rapidly in 2018, ultimately contributing to the manager's dismissal in December of that same year.
For a short while under Mourinho's far less authoritarian successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it appeared that Pogba might belatedly realise his potential. The Norwegian even claimed, "There is an agenda against Paul but he is a top, top bloke. He is a great professional, there have never been any problems and he has got a heart of gold."
And yet Pogba – and his agent – continually disrespected United with talk of transfers and new challenges away from Old Trafford.