Allegri says Pogba's suspension for doping is 'unprecedented'

“It's very sad, both as a person and for football. We are losing an extraordinary player,” Allegri told reporters ahead of Juve's Serie A game against Napoli on Sunday.

“I was lucky to work with him and coach him. It's very hard to find players like him…He's a great guy.”

Allegri sent a message of support to Pogba, who plans to appeal his suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but added that he would not speak further about the ongoing case.

2018 World Cup winner French midfielder Pogba has barely featured for Juve since returning from Manchester United in 2022 due to a spate of injuries and a doping ban.

Pogba's representatives said the testosterone came from a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor he saw in the US.

If CAS upholds his suspension, Pogba would only be able to return to action in the 2027/28 season, when he would be 34 years old.

His positive doping test came as he returned to Juventus and was trying to overcome a difficult season in which he played just 10 games and missed France's failed defense of the World Cup in Qatar due to injury. Ta.

He made two substitute appearances for Juventus earlier this season, but was suspended after testing positive for the first toxic substance in early October.

Meanwhile, an investigation is underway in France into an attempted extortion attempt against Pogba in March 2022, in which Pogba's older brother Matthias is one of the suspects, along with a childhood friend of his family.

Two intruders allegedly broke into Pogba's home on the outskirts of Paris, held him against his will and demanded 13 million euros ($14.1 million at current rates).

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