Paul Pogba terminated his contract with Juventus by mutual consent after his suspension. The midfielder was banned by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) in February 2024 after he tested positive following a drug test that found elevated levels of testosterone, a hormone that increases endurance – in his system.
Just a few months after he rejoined the Italian top club, the midfielder was banned. He went ahead and appealed against the ruling to CAS, who confirmed the ADRV (anti-doping rule violation) but reduced the sanction to 18 months, starting from 11 September 2023.
“I play with integrity and, although I must accept that this is a strict liability offense, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation. This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.” expressed Paul Pogba.
After the ban, the 2018 World Cup winner expressed disappointment in life following the treatment he received during the tough times.
Paul Pogba: “We are all human, we all have feelings. I’m telling you, when that ban happened, I truly realized what life is. People were avoiding me. I used to get invited to fashion weeks and events like that. Now they were like: ‘We can’t use Pogba’. My friends weren’t ringing like the way they were ringing before.”
After his ban was slashed to 18 months and now nearing expiry, the Frenchman is free to play again from March 2025. Despite the setback, Pogba’s pedigree as a World Cup winner and experienced midfielder has kept him on the radar of several top clubs.
Rumors suggest the 2018 World Cup winner and world-class is being coveted by a number of clubs in England, and Russia as well as lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia are after his signature.
Amidist the numerous speculations doing rounds, his latest social media activity has preferred another possibility, joining Manchester United for a third time. On Monday night, Pogba shared a puzzling cartoon of him and Amad Diallo standing alongside each other in Manchester United shirts.
On the next slide of his Stories, Pogba shared a photo of him overlooking Miami from a skyscraper with the caption: ‘Let’s see what’s coming…’ It would certainly mark one of the most shocking transfers in recent Premier League history given how he left on a free transfer in 2022, six years after joining for £89million from Juventus. His first season, under Jose Mourinho, saw United win both the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League – but that would prove to be the only silverware he won there.
Speaking to ESPN, the midfielder further stated that he still wants to play in the UEFA Champions League, he wants to play for the top five clubs in the Champions League. He further insisted nothing is finalized yet but it is coming.
