Will he move to the MLS – or even to Ligue 1 for the first time? Paul Pogba (31) has brushed aside rumors and announced that he wants to return to Juventus Turin after his doping suspension. To do so, the 2018 world champion would also “give up money”.
The decision had also caused quite a stir in Italy. At the beginning of October, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS had significantly reduced Paul Pogba’s four-year doping ban – and justified this with an “unintentional” ingestion of substances.
The shortened suspension of 18 months allows the 2018 world champion to return to the pitch as early as March 2025. He is allowed to start training at the beginning of the coming calendar year.
As a result, Italian media outlets had unanimously reported that Juve would like to terminate the contract, which runs until June 30, 2026. In view of the reported salary of eight million euros, the aim was to make savings.
In his sporting project, Thiago Motta didn’t seem to have much of a place for Pogba anyway. “He was a great player,” said the Juve coach, referring to Pogba’s long break.
Pogba promises: “This will be a new Pogba”
Despite rumors of a possible move to the MLS or his first engagement in Ligue 1, he has now announced: “I’m willing to take a pay cut to be able to play for Juve, I want to return to this club,” the 31-year-old told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
In 2022, the midfielder returned to the Italian champions from Manchester United on a free transfer. Since then, however, he has only played twelve competitive games in the Bianconeri jersey.
Now, Pogba wants to talk to coach Motta as soon as possible: “I want to be ready to train and play with Juve, I’m a Juve player, that’s all I think about right now.”
But what can he still give to the current third-placed team in the Serie A? “It will be a new Pogba, hungrier, wiser and stronger. I just want to play football.”
