Juventus Turin – Motta: “Pogba hasn’t played for a long time”

Axel Allag, Media365, published on Saturday October 5, 2024 at 2:49 p.m.

On the eve of the Cagliari reception (Sunday 12:30 p.m.), Thiago Motta mentioned the case of Paul Pogba, largely letting go of the idea that the midfielder’s future seemed complicated at Juventus Turin.

Even if he will be able to train with Juventus Turin from January (and play again in March), Paul Pogba’s future does not seem to register with the Old Lady. Relieved to have finally finished with the “nightmare” surrounding his suspension for doping, reduced by the CAS from 4 years to 18 months, the 2018 world champion seems far away in the mind of his trainer, Thiago Motta. The latter must in fact integrate three recruits in the middle (Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram) while Manuel Locatelli, Weston McKennie and Nicolo Fagioli are also present in a rather well-stocked sector.

“The club will make a decision if necessary”

So this Saturday, on the eve of the reception of Cagliari, Thiago Motta spoke about the situation of Pogba, linked to Juventus Turin until June 2026, but whose future should not be part of this training, according to information from Gazzetta dello Sport. “The club will assess the situation and make a decision if necessary. As far as I am concerned, Paul Pogba was a great player, he hasn’t played for a long time,” said the former PSG midfielder.

Contacted by AFP, Juventus refused to comment on the case of Pogba, suspended since September 2023 for having tested positive for testosterone, while Thiago Motta clearly clarified his current priority. “Me, I’m focused on our match tomorrow (Sunday against Cagliari, editor’s note), everything else doesn’t matter much to me.” It therefore seems utopian to hope to see, one day, Paul Pogba wearing the Old Lady jersey again when he has not played for 14 months and must now continue to prepare physically to try to find again, if so much is it possible, its best level.