Paul Pogba Reveals Devastating Effects Of Struggling With ‘Depression’ During His Time At Man United Under Jose Mourinho

Here’s a rephrased version of the paragraph:French footballer Paul Pogba has opened up about the emotional toll of experiencing depression during his time at Manchester United under the management of Jose Mourinho.

Pogba, currently a free agent following the conclusion of his 18-month doping ban in March, had a strained relationship with Mourinho during their time together at Old Trafford. The strained relationship ultimately led to Pogba being relieved of his role as vice-captain.

The pair were also filmed in a tense exchange during a training session, and Mourinho reportedly labeled Pogba a “virus” in the dressing room following a 2-2 draw with Southampton in December 2018.

In a recent interview with GQ France, Pogba reflected on his time at Manchester United, admitting that despite the fanfare surrounding his return, things were far from perfect behind the scenes.

‘I didn’t understand. I was a player with a big role in the team, and suddenly, I found myself on the bench,’ Pogba told GQ. ‘I couldn’t speak, there was no communication.

The 32-year-old then laid bare the impact his stress took on his body.

‘I wasn’t happy, and a football player who isn’t happy can’t perform well,’ he added. 

‘I fell into depression without even realising it. Because no one teaches us what depression is. Until I started having bald spots on my scalp.

‘I didn’t understand what it was. They told me it was stress.’ 

Pogba also spoke about the extortion case involving his brother Mathias and five others, who were sentenced to prison terms of up to eight years. He revealed that in 2022, he was held at gunpoint and demanded €13 million (£11.1 million) after being deceived.

The midfielder admitted to paying the group €100,000 (£85,500) and previously confessed that the ordeal had made him consider retiring from football entirely.

“I kept the extortion a secret,” Pogba shared. “My wife didn’t know, my children didn’t know. I would come home from training and still had to act as a father and husband. I carried the weight alone. Eventually, it was destroying me from the inside.”

Since March, Pogba has been eligible to play again after his initial four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Although he has received interest from clubs around the world, Pogba is in no rush to make a decision about his next move. He has recently been linked with a potential return to France with Marseille and a possible switch to MLS side Inter Miami.