Juventus’s French midfielder Paul Pogba attends the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup Eastern Conference semifinal first leg football match between Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on October 25, 2024. (Photo by Chris Arjoon / AFP)
Paul Pogba can return to competition from Tuesday as the previous France star’s 18-month doping ban expired–but he needs to search out a club.
The player who graced the midfield of Manchester United and Juventus is hoping to place three chaotic years behind him and is looking for a brand new employer with a view to playing within the 2026 World Cup, with David Beckham’s MLS side Inter Miami amongst his possible options.
The 91-times capped midfielder suffered through repeated injuries and patchy form that led to his departure from United in 2022. He returned for a second stint at Juventus, where problems continued to dog him.
READ: Paul Pogba doping ban reduced from 4 years to 18 months
A failed drugs test after a game in Italy in August 2023 resulted in a four-year doping ban which was reduced on appeal.
Pogba blamed a food complement prescribed by a health care provider he consulted in the US for the positive test.
Juventus terminated his contract last November, but Pogba “is training at 1,000 percent, he’s in good spirits, he has received many offers”, a member of his entourage insisted.
His ultimate dream stays next yr’s World Cup, but a player who turns 32 this week would first need to persuade France coach Didier Deschamps.
Pogba is in regular contact with Deschamps, “certainly one of his advisors for sporting decisions”, in keeping with certainly one of the player’s close friends.
But who may very well be concerned about signing a player whose last match dates back to September 3, 2023 when he lined up Juventus?
In January, Pogba said on social media he had received “proposals, not very interesting stuff”, akin to “going to play in Russia, but that’s not the goal”.
A contract, he admitted, “doesn’t rely on me, but on a whole lot of other things”.
Inter Miami may very well be an answer.
READ: Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba banned 4 years for doping
Pogba lives in Florida and was within the stands for Inter’s first MLS match this season, against Latest York City on February 23. He’s working on his physical condition with the fitness coach of Lionel Messi, the team’s Argentinian superstar.
Pogba has been sharing photos of his intensive training sessions along with his 62.7 million Instagram followers, together with fashion shots, his other passion.
French club Marseille are also reported to have an interest with football director Medhi Benatia having played alongside Pogba at Juventus.
But Marseille may not wish to take the danger of enlisting a player whose form can be uncertain after such an extended absence.
Pogba’s personal life has also been through a turbulent period — he was the victim of a kidnapping and extortion case in 2022 for which his brother Mathias and five of his childhood friends received prison terms.
“I can finally turn the page on this extremely painful period,” Pogba said after the trial led to December last yr.
“This conclusion is a possibility for everybody to give attention to the long run.”
