After three years away from the starting lineup, Pogba finally returned to the pitch.
Paul Pogba has opened up about an unexpected show of support from Cristiano Ronaldo during one of the toughest periods of his life. While many people around him distanced themselves, the Portuguese star stepped forward with a gesture the French midfielder will never forget.
Pogba explained that when news of his troubles broke, his phone was flooded with messages for the first two days. But then came the silence.
“When the story came out, my phone was full of messages for two days… and then, suddenly, nothing. People I considered brothers disappeared. Friends suddenly became busy,” he recounted.
In the midst of that loneliness, one call came as a complete surprise — from his former Manchester United teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo. “I was stunned.”
“The name I never expected to see was Cristiano’s. He didn’t call to talk about football, training, or headlines. He asked me just one question: ‘How is your family? Are you okay?’” Pogba recalled.
A few days later, Ronaldo reached out again, offering direct assistance.
“He called me once more and said, ‘If you need anything for your family, for your recovery, or for your life, call me. Don’t hesitate. Pride should never stop you from accepting help.’”
For Pogba, that gesture carried special weight because it came at a moment of extreme vulnerability.
“In that moment, I wasn’t talking to the superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. I was talking to a man who understands pain, pressure, and loneliness. I’ve played with champions before, but in tough times you discover who the real ones are. Ronaldo, I love you.”
