Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is positive regarding his prospects of returning to action and has been training well since being suspended over a positive drugs test, according to his agent Rafaela Pimenta.
The former Manchester United midfielder was handed a provisional suspension in September, after a routine test administered by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) found elevated levels of testosterone in his system following a game against Udinese the previous month.
That suspension was extended indefinitely after his B sample also tested positive, with Pimenta expressing her belief that any rule break on Pogba’s part had been unintentional.
If Pogba is found guilty at the conclusion of Nado’s doping investigation, the 2018 World Cup winner could face a ban of between two and four years.
Such a lengthy suspension would cast doubt upon the 30-year-old’s future at the elite level, but Pimenta says her client is simply taking things one day at a time.
“We see the future one day after another,” Pimenta said in an interview with Relevo.
“We are doing everything we must to try to explain what is happening with Paul. But this explanation has to happen in front of a judge.
“I think that to enable a judge to have independence and to reach his conclusions, we cannot influence him with public comments.
“We have our arguments, very serious and very important, and I have to offer the judge these arguments without trying to influence him. We are doing everything we have to do.
“Those who know Paul know what has happened. They know that Paul is an honest, correct person and that he always does things with integrity.
“He is living through it with confidence and professionalism. He trains all the time and only thinks about getting through these difficult moments to come back.
“I have confidence in the system. I have the tendency to trust until proven otherwise. I only have signs that it is a system that works. I hope you can understand our position.”
???????????? pic.twitter.com/eo4jccDpUa
— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) August 4, 2023
Pogba has endured a torrid time of things since returning to Turin last year, missing most of the 2022-23 season, including France’s World Cup campaign, through injury.
He was also allegedly the target of an extortion attempt involving his brother Mathias, which he said made him consider retiring from football.
Pogba has only made two substitute appearances for Juventus this season, featuring for a total of 54 minutes after being limited to 10 outings – nine of them from the bench – last campaign.
