Paul Pogba (31 years old), former Manchester United midfielder and currently under contract with Juventus, is going through a delicate period since his positive test for testosterone in August 2023. Initially suspended for four years, his sentence was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This decision allows him to resume training in January 2025 and to play competitively again from March 2025.
Pogba soon free from any contract?
However, his situation with Juventus is complicated. The Turin club reportedly plans to terminate his contract, which runs until 2026, which would free the player for other opportunities. Pogba has not played regularly since returning to Juve in 2022 due to recurring injuries and his suspension. Juventus, who signed players like Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuramno longer seems to be counting on him, particularly due to a large number of midfielders, since to the recruits it should be added Weston McKennie, Manuel Locatelli or even Nicolò Fagioli.
In terms of prospects, several options are still open to him. Rumors send him to Ligue 1, but also to MLS (United States) or Saudi Arabia, where several clubs have shown interest in recruiting him. Pogba, who will turn 32 next March, will probably look to make a fresh start to get back on track and get back to his level, possibly with the aim of playing in the 2026 World Cup.
A rumor started by Patrice Evra
For its big premiere on RMC in Jérôme Rothen’s show, Patrice Evrawho played like Pogba at Manchester United and Juventus, started the rumor of a possible signing of “La Pioche” at Marseille. At present, according to our information, there is no contact between OM and the Pogba clan for a possible common future..
@Evra: “99%, I think we won’t see Paul again in the colors of Juve. We have to turn the page. I’m going to call Mehdi Benatia so he can call him because the doors are open”
A Pogba/Rabiot environment at OM pic.twitter.com/pzV12pwb3n
Rothen ignites (@Rothensenflamme) October 4, 2024
Why could this become a concrete avenue?
If to date there is nothing concrete, there are many reasons to think that OM will end up knocking on the door of the 2018 world champion. The main characters of the club this season are being fed in Serie A. Roberto DeZerbi and his advisor Giovanni Rossiof course, but also Pablo Longoria et Mehdi Benatia. The two decision-making leaders of the Olympian transfer window also worked for Juventus Turin. Longoria cut his teeth there as number two in recruitment from 2015 to 2018. Mehdi Benatia played there from 2016 to 2018.
Since he has been in Marseille, the Spanish president has recruited a lot in Serie A and has already set up deals with or around Juventus. In January 2021, with the exchange between Marley Ake et Franco Tongyawhich caused a lot of talk, or with the recruitment to Fiorentina of a player he had met when he was among the young Turinese players, Pol Lirola. During the summer of 2022, with the departure ofArkadiusz Milik at Juventus. A few weeks ago, free recruitment ofAdrien Rabiot was also a strong signal. There is no doubt that Paul Pogba’s situation arouses some curiosity, even if to date, the slender midfielder is not a free player. Add to that the reasons which pushed the former Parisian to join OM: football, fervor, Roberto De Zerbi…
Of course, the situation is not perfect, since Paul Pogba has not played a football match since September 3, 2023… Obviously, he will take time before regaining his splendor, if he succeeds. His last club experiences were not fruitful and his last good seasons are starting to date. Despite everything, his star power, whether in the media or linked to his aura on the field, suggests a good pick for his possible future employer.
“I prefer to see stars than nuggets”
On the set of the Talk Show, Phocéen journalist Romain Haering did not seem to want to hear the legitimate criticisms: “OM transcends. Lassana Diarra, Alexis Sanchez, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, when they arrive, they are players who are really at the bottom of the wave and you totally revive them, so OM transforms you. Players like Pogba… OM have Luis Henrique and Harit as starters, so Pogba! You have to understand that we are in a club where we live through the stars too. In the 90s, OM shined because we had stars. We have guys like Papin, Waddle. Even before, even in the past, when we welcome the Brazilians who are world champions, Paulo Cesar, Jairzinho, we are a club which has highlighted stars since the 70s, Skoblar, Magnusson. We have lost this tradition a little, despite Heinze, Lucho… At OM, I prefer to see stars rather than gems, we can’t do that. There is also the size of the Vélodrome, the OM and the weight of the jersey“.
