Paul Pogba will not return to the football fields with the colors of Juventus Turin. The former French international, whose suspension for doping, following a positive testosterone test, had been reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), will technically be able to put on his cleats again in March 2025, but will have to find a new club The Bianconeri announced, on Friday, November 15, in a press release. “having mutually agreed upon”with the 2018 world champion, of the termination of the contract that had united them since the end of the month.
It’s really not a surprise. Piedmontese coach Thiago Motta coldly welcomed the CAS decision at the beginning of October and showed no desire to reintegrate the 31-year-old midfielder into his team. “The club will evaluate the situation and, if necessary, make a decision”declared the formeroh 8 of Paris Saint-Germain.
Juve, whose losses reached 200 million euros during the 2023-24 season, got rid of a player who cost them dearly (8 million euros per year), due to a poor return (12 games, 213 minutes of play, zero goals) and a singularly tarnished image.
Winner of eight national titles with the club between 2012 and 2016, finalist in the Champions League in 2015, Paul Pogba returned to Turin in 2022, after a bad spell at Manchester United (2016-2022). He was linked to the Bianconeri until June 2026.
A return to the Blues?
His last appearance on a football field dates back to September 3, 2023 and a match against Empoli in the Italian championship. After testing positive for testosterone on the sidelines of a Serie A match on August 20 of that year, he was provisionally suspended on September 11, before being officially sanctioned in February by the Italian national anti-doping organization to a four-year suspension.
The Frenchman has always defended himself against any trap. “ I have always maintained that I have never knowingly violated WADA rules. [Agence mondiale antidopage] when I took a nutritional supplement that was prescribed to me by a doctor, and that does not affect or improve the performance of male athletes”he stated in a press release issued after the CAS decision.
The sporting continuation of Paul Pogba’s story could be written in Saudi Arabia or North America. And perhaps in Blue, while France national team coach Didier Deschamps was one of the few to publicly support him over the past twelve months. “There is this light that turns on again.”Bayonnais rejoiced, about an important player on and off the field (91 international matches, eleven goals) and off.
Shortly after this Friday’s announcement, Paul Pogba published a message on Instagram for Piedmont fans: “ The bond that unites us, dear fans, is unforgettable, you have given me so much (…) You will remain in my heart forever. »
