Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri
said Friday that he was "sorry" for Paul Pogba after the France
midfielder was given a provisional suspension for suspected
doping and dismissed the law suit former captain Leonardo
Bonucci has presented against the Turin giants as a "soap
opera".
On Monday Italy's national anti-doping tribunal suspended Pogba
as a precautionary measure following a positive test for
"testosterone not of endogenous origin" regarding a sample he
gave after Juve's opening game of the Serie A season away at
Udinese last month.
Pogba has requested the B samples be examined.
"I am sorry for Pogba, but I have nothing more to add about it,"
Allegri told a press conference ahead of Juve's home match
against Lazio on Saturday.
"A procedure is underway, there are people involved and it is
right to wait for the end of the proceedings.
"He has been suspended, let's wait for the ruling and then I
will be able to say what changes for Juve.
"Paul will not be with us against Lazio and (the following game
at) Sassuolo and then we'll see.
"Right now, however, we have to stay focused on the players we
have".
Former Italy defender Bonucci is suing Juve after being frozen
out of the first team following the end of last season.
The Turin giants' former captain ended up moving to Union
Berlino during the summer transfer window after Allegri told him
he no longer featured in his plans.
The request for damages regards Juve's alleged failure to
provide Bonucci with adequate conditions to train.
"I wish him good luck for his career on and off the field,"
Allegri said when asked about Bonucci.
"The soap operas are on Canale 5 (television), but I'm not crazy
about them. Bonucci went to a team that is in the Champions
League. I have nothing more to add".
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