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Former Machester United star Paul Pogba has declared that black players have already won the fight against racism
French midfielder Paul Pogba believes that black players have already won the battle against racism and can continue to live out that victory whenever they play at the highest level of football.
Pogba believes that black players have already won against racism
The Juventus midfielder was speaking in an interview with Views France when he made his feelings known about the ongoing fight against racism that black players have to fight on an almost daily basis.
The France international was asked about facing racial discrimination in Italy, and replied, “Yeah, yeah, but in fact, we've already won. Black people have already won. How many years have we been slaves? Today we play soccer. We take the buses. We have cars. We are recognized worldwide. For me, it's a victory.”
Pogba blasted people with racist mindsets, saying, “All of these people are ignorant, they are comments from ignorant people who want to touch or hurt anyone, whether or not a sportsman or outside.
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“Me, the advice I can give to black people or even people of colour, all the people who have received racist comments is: they try to touch you and the weak do that. We have already won. Today look: you are black, you [the interviewer] do your interview, do you think that the years when we were slaves, it would have been possible ? Never !
Pogba re-joined Juventus in the Summer of 2022 in the Serie A which has had a history of racially charged incidents which was repeated during Juventus’s Coppa Italia semifinal against Inter when the French midfielder’s friend Romelu Lukaku was abused by fans of the Old Lady, sparking a melee after the game.
Pogba said incidents like that do not matter to him, because he and other black people have already overcome the struggle, as evidenced by people of all races idolising them for their football abilities.
He said, “Today we won. Black people are there, and there is nothing they can do. It’s like that.
“What is my victory? It’s when I see white kids wearing my shirt, they ask me for autographs, they ask for photos. This is my victory. It stops there.”
Pogba unfazed by racist comments and fans
He also said he has nothing against racists, and will continue trying to change their mindsets by playing football how he sees fit.
“You can be racist as you want, I have nothing against them,” he said, “I have nothing against anyone. And frankly, my wish, my invocations, is to change the hearts of these people by playing soccer.
“ It’s about changing the mentality of these people. Racist remarks, there will be all the time, whether it is white or black. Because we are in Europe, but it can be the opposite too.
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Finally Pogba explains that he has not been affected by racist comments for a long time since he understands that theirs is a poor mentality that can not be changed.
“Racists, there will always be and that you will not be able to change. Because you can't change what someone thinks. Because you can't change the ignorant. And there are a lot of hidden racists. They are silent, they say nothing, but they are still racist. So these words, really, have not touched me for a long time.”
After an injury-laden first season on his return to Juventus, Pogba is now looking forward to recovering from his muscle problems during the break so he can hit the ground running in the 2023/24 season.
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