Super-agent Rafaela Pimenta noted that she ‘always has hope’ as work continues on Paul Pogba’s appeal after a failed doping test.
The 30-year-old French midfielder failed a doping test in late August, testing positive for DHEA, a steroid which can help boost natural production of testosterone. He requested a counter-analysis, which confirmed the positive result in early October.
Pogba is now at risk of being handed a multi-year ban. He is currently suspended from footballing activities and is not allowed to work at Juventus’ Continassa training ground.
Speaking to The Guardian, Pimenta was first asked about Pogba’s failed doping test and the upcoming appeal.
“We’re working on [an appeal] but, being a lawyer, I’m the first to believe that if something needs to be discussed on a legal level, it needs to stay there. But I always have hope.”
She spoke about her personal relationship with the 30-year-old midfielder.
“I will always be there for Paul. He’s a part of my life and I’m grateful for the way he treated me and always gave us respect. He’s a great person that has evolved so much, because I met him as a kid.
“He’s a father now, with three kids. So he changed so much and he will grow more. What I like about Paul is that whenever something negative happens, he does his best to find a lesson in it.”
Finally, Pimenta discussed how Pogba can be misunderstood by those who judge him.
“People often judge somebody because of a haircut. But Paul would not be at home thinking for six hours about his haircut. He only thought about it when his barber said: ‘Go blonde, go funny.’ Paul says: ‘Whatever.’
“When Paul was doing the haircut on Instagram, he was ahead of his time. Now they all do it. If you go to Lazio, they have a super-beautiful barber room in the training ground. The last time the Brazil national team was together, the barber was one of the activities.”
Pogba returned to Juventus on a free transfer last year and his second spell at the club has been a disaster, blighted by numerous injuries. He’s only seen 213 minutes of action across 12 games since his return in July 2022.