'He's a great man' - Adrien Rabiot hopeful Paul Pogba gets 'lightest sanction possible' after failed doping test as he defends 'disheartened' Juventus team-mate

The former Manchester United midfielder was provisionally suspended over elevated levels of testosterone back in September. Pogba is yet to return to action for club or country as he awaits a ban that could rise to as many as four years away from the game. Rabiot, his club and international team-mate, has since lifted the lid on the difficult situation, and has called for a minimum possible punishment.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 28-year-old said: "I don't know what will happen to Pogba. We always talk. We met before I joined up the national team and we had dinner together. Paul is always smiling and outgoing. I think the situation is weighing on him. I hope he manages to get the lightest sanction possible. Paul is disheartened. He's a great player, a great man. Dealing with everything he had to go through is very difficult for any person.”

Pogba was found with the banned substance DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) in his system, which naturally boosts testosterone. As a result, the 30-year-old has seen his salary drop significantly, from €10 million (£9m/$11m) to a reported €2,000 (£1,700/$2,200) a month. His current suspension at Juventus could yet be elevated to a contract termination depending on the final verdict, while France coach Didier Deschamps was similarly unable to give him any assurances over his international future.

Deschamps, Rabiot and Co. were unable to build on a record-breaking win over Gibraltar at the weekend, posting a disappointing 2-2 draw for France against Greece on Tuesday. Rabiot will now begin preparations for Juventus' next match against Inter on Sunday. Pogba, meanwhile, will continue to sweat over his future, with now news as yet on a date for that doping ban verdict.