A European club are reportedly in advanced talks over the January signing of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
A European club are reportedly in advanced talks over the signing of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
The 31-year-old was suspended from all football activity in September 2023 after testing positive for non-endogenous testosterone, before Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal banned him for four years.
It has since been confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that Pogba’s four-year ban has been reduced to 18 months, after it was accepted that the midfielder’s ingestion of the banned substance “was not intentional”.
This means that Pogba is eligible to return to football in March next year, although it has been reported that Juventus could terminate the Frenchman’s contract that is due to expire in 2026.
It is understood that Pogba is eyeing up a fresh start away from the Turin-based giants, where he has made 190 appearances across all competitions during two spells at the club, scoring 31 goals and providing 41 assists.
Pogba has been tipped to potentially make a sensational return to the Premier League, although it is thought that at this moment in time, the former Manchester United man is not anticipating a return to England in the near future.
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Pogba to reunite with Greenwood, Rabiot at Marseille?
Instead, Pogba could embark on a fresh challenge in his native France, as The Sun reports that Ligue 1 outfit Marseille are in advanced talks to sign the midfielder from Juventus.
A separate Ivorian news outlet claims that Marseille have been in advanced talks with Pogba for ‘several weeks’ over a proposed transfer in January.
Marseille are managed by former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi, who has made a positive start to life in France, with his side sitting third in the Ligue 1 table after winning four of their opening seven games.
Les Phoceens were busy in the summer transfer market, recruiting a total of 13 players including Mason Greenwood who played alongside Pogba at Man United and has since scored five goals in seven matches for his new club in France.
The likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Elye Wahi, Neal Maupay and Jonathan Rowe have also joined Marseille, while Adrien Rabiot completed his free transfer last month after leaving Juventus in the summer.
Pogba has surprisingly never played for a French club in his professional career; he left Le Harve’s academy in 2009 to join Man United and has since represented both the Red Devils and Juve on two separate occasions to date.