THE PAUL POGBA STORY:From Glory to Downfall and the Road to Redemption

In the summer of 2014, a young French footballer was dazzling at the Brazil World Cup. Paul Pogba seemed destined to take the football world by storm,a promise he partly fulfilled by winning the World Cup in 2018 with Les Bleus and earning major accolades at club level with Manchester United and Juventus. Once hailed as the poster boy for the next generation and the 'next big thing,' Pogba is now often remembered as one of the biggest 'what-ifs' in football history. What went wrong with the 2013 Golden Boy winner?

To understand where things unraveled, we must first look at how it all began. Born in Lagny-sur-Marne, France, Paul Pogba’s rise to the top is a tale of resilience and determination. His childhood, however, was marked by hardship—his parents divorced when he was just two years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his brothers alone. Despite these challenges, Pogba’s passion for football was unshaken. The youngest of three football-loving brothers, he quickly distinguished himself with his skill, ambition, and leadership on the field.

At 16, Pogba joined the prestigious Manchester United academy, a move that seemed like the perfect step for the rising star. Yet his first stint at the club was far from ideal. After a season with minimal game time, Pogba made the bold decision to leave United in 2012, a move that shocked fans and made Sir Alex Ferguson furious. The legendary manager publicly criticized the decision, attributing it to the bad influence of Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola. "We’re disappointed in Paul Pogba," Ferguson said at the time. "He showed a lack of respect to the club.

With Pogba’s arrival at the Old Lady, he quickly adapted to Antonio Conte’s demanding system. Conte’s tactics provided the perfect launchpad for the young midfielder, offering a disciplined framework that allowed Pogba to flourish while showcasing his individual brilliance.

Conte’s 3-5-2 system, which consisted of a formidable midfield trio of Pirlo, Vidal, and Pogba, struck the ideal balance between structure and creative freedom. With defensive stability behind him provided by a back three of Bonucci, Chiellini, and Barzagli, Pogba thrived—dictating play, scoring bangers, and showcasing his potential.

When Conte departed and Allegri took charge, Pogba didn't take much time to adapt into Allegri’s more fluid system, placing greater responsibility on Pogba’s shoulders. He was no longer a emerging talent in a star-studded midfield, but Pogba stepped up to replace the legends around him, becoming the leader of Juventus’ midfield.

In his four seasons at Turin, Pogba was nothing short of spectacular. He registered 34 goals and 40 assists across all competitions.His contributions led to Juventus winning four consecutive Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles.

The pinnacle of his time in Turin came in 2015, when Pogba helped Juventus reach the Champions League final. Despite falling short against Luis Enrique’s Barcelona, his performances cemented his status as one of the best midfielders in the world.

Pogba's career took a dramatic turn when it was announced that he would return to his teenage club for a whopping €105 million transfer. On his return to his boyhood club, Pogba stated, "I just came back to Carrington. It was like I'd just come back home." It is believed that José Mourinho played a pivotal role in bringing Pogba back to Old Trafford, viewing him as a key figure in Manchester United's post Ferguson rebuild. However, Pogba’s time at United did not unfold as anticipated. While he remained one of the best players in the world on his day, he only showed glimpses of his brilliance.

Paul Pogba’s struggles at Manchester United Can be attributed to several reasons. Unlike at Juventus, where he thrived in a structured midfield alongside world-class players like Pirlo, Vidal, and Marchisio, United’s squad lacked the same tactical balance and cohesion. Pogba found himself playing in systems that didn’t suit his strengths,and the players around him weren't at the same level as they were in Turin.At times, Pogba admitted that “it was challenging to maintain consistency in an environment that wasn’t built around his abilities”. This mismatch of expectations, coupled with recurring injuries and constant media scrutiny, significantly contributed to his inconsistent performances at Old Trafford.

However, his club struggles never affected his performances for Les Bleus. Pogba consistently delivered for the French national team, playing a pivotal role in their Euro 2016 campaign. The pinnacle of his career came in 2018 when he formed a formidable midfield partnership with N’Golo Kanté, scored in the World Cup final against Croatia, and lived the dream which the young Paul pogba once had.

Unfortunately, things didn’t improve for Pogba after his World Cup triumph. Changes in management at Old Trafford, combined with off-pitch controversies,including his abduction involving his brother, made matters worse. His departure from Carrington became inevitable. In six seasons at United, Pogba registered 39 goals and 51 assists across all competitions and helped the club win the Europa League under Portugues manager.

Pogba returned to Juventus on a free transfer, but his second stint with the Italian club also got off to a poor start. He suffered an injury that ruled him out for a long period of time, including the Qatar World Cup. While things seemed to be getting back on track, he was later involved in a doping case and received a four-year ban from Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal (NADO Italia) after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone in a doping test, later reduced to 18 months.

Although the ban has been reduced, the damage it has done to the former Manchester United star cannot be undone. Pogba is currently a free agent after his contract was terminated by Juve in December 2024. With reports linking him to Real Madrid or a move to the Saudi Pro League, the question remains,does Paul Labile Pogba still have what it takes to deliver at the highest level?

Piece written by Harish Saharan