World Cup winner with Messi’s Argentina makes raw admission after doping prohibition: ‘Football had died for me’

Lionel Messi reached the highlight of world football on December 18, 2022, when he led Argentina To the victory over France in the FIFA World Cup Final. In addition to him, 25 other players have etched their names in the most glorious chapter of the sport. But not long after, one of those stars received an important suspension for testing positive on a forbidden substance.

Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez was a starter in Argentinamatches against Saudi -Arabia And Australia During the World Cup 2022. At that time he played for Seville in The competitionwhere he stayed until the summer of 2023. His move to Monza High expectations of the Italian side, who had just signed a 35-year-old World Cup champion that still had enough to offer.

However, the Stint of Gomez in Monza was short -lived. He only played two Series A matches before it was revealed He had tested positively in an anti-doping check of October 2022 for Terbutalinea substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The Argentinian midfielder explained that he had taken a cough syrup intended for his children but the explanation did not prevent a two-year suspension.

Now prepared for his return to the field with Padova in Italy Series BPapu opened about that difficult chapter in an interview about the Visitor Podcast. “The first few months were difficult. It was difficult for me to watch football in the beginning – I turned off the TV. Football had died for me,“Said Alejandro.

‘I was isolated myself and started working with a psychologist because I was stuck in a loop that I could not get out of, “ The 37-year-old midfielder, who last played an official game on October 8, 2023 added in Monza’s 3-0 win over Salernitana. ‘Why should I be forced to retire if I don’t want that and it’s not my time? Why would two or three people who have never played before, decide when I am ready? “

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Gomez asks anti-doping standards

In the same interview, Alejandro Gomez shared his opinion about how anti-doping is regulated in professional football. In particular, he criticized what he sees as inconsistencies in how things are assessed and punished.

‘You take cocaine or smoke marijuana and they give you a ban of six months, “ I have a papu. “I had to serve for two years to drink my son’s cough syrup. Who can understand that?“

Gomez reflects on football and life after the prohibition

With the advantage of time and perspective, Alejandro Gomez thought about both his professional journey and what is still for us. “I don’t want to live on memories. I can’t come home and see a goal that I scored five years ago. What is the point? The most important thing is the present,“He said.

Papu also admitted that he was disappointed by the way people close to him after his suspension. “If things go well, everyone is in the area. If they are not, nobody is,” the midfielder said. “There are all kinds of people, but I was surprised by how much has just disappeared.”

The suspension of Gomez will officially end in October and release the road for his debut with Padova in series B. Now 37, he wants to return to top form and close a successful career on his own conditions – even if his golden days with Argentina and Sevilla are already behind him.