Paul Pogba reveals devastating effects of falling into 'depression' at Man United after 'nightmare' Jose Mourinho relationship led to him being dropped
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- The superstar was stripped of the captaincy after falling out with Jose Mourinho
- He has now revealed his declining mental health took a physical toll on his body
- LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Should Phil Foden miss the Club World Cup this summer to be given a rest?
Paul Pogba has revealed the worrying toll his depression at Manchester United took on his body after his high-profile falling out with Jose Mourinho.
Pogba, who remains without a club but is permitted to play again after his 18-month doping ban ended in March, endured a frosty relationship with Mourinho during his stint at Old Trafford, resulting in him being stripped of the vice-captaincy.
The duo were also caught on camera in the middle of an awkward training ground confrontation while Mourinho was alleged to have branded Pogba a 'virus' in the dressing room after a 2-2 draw with Southampton in December 2018.
In a previous interview with Mail Sport, Pogba, who re-joined United in a then-world record £89million deal in 2016, compared his 'nightmare' rift with Mourinho to a 'boyfriend and girlfriend' who were 'breaking up and making up all the time'.
Pogba helped United win the League Cup and Europa League in 2017 but his connection with Mourinho reached breaking point at the start of the following season.
He was subsequently benched in the months leading up to the Special One's sacking.
'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 addressed the extortion case that resulted in his brother Mathias and five accomplices being given prison sentences of up to eight years. He said he was held at gunpoint in 2022 and demanded €13m (£11.1m) after being 'tricked'.
The midfielder said he had paid the group €100,000 (£85,500) and previously admitted he had considered retiring from football altogether over the incident.
'I hid everything about the extortion,' Pogba said. 'My wife didn't know, my children didn't know. When I got home from training, I had to play the role of father and husband. I kept it all to myself. In the end, it was eating me alive.'
Since March, Pogba has been eligible to play again after his initial four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Despite receiving offers from 'all over', he plans to take his time before deciding on his next destination. Pogba has been linked with Marseille and MLS outfit Inter Miami.
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