Pogba embraces 'new lease of life' after ban reduction, denies links to Marseille
Yesterday at 01:20 PM
While many in the Italian media still think a contract termination by Juventus is the likely scenario, the French midfielder has certainly come back into the public eye after his four-year doping suspension was reduced.
It has been nearly two weeks since we first got the report of Paul Pogba seeing his doping suspension reduced from a potentially career-ending four years to just 18 months. That meant, despite what has already been a long time away from any sort of competitive game time, Pogba is now less than six months away from making the comeback.
We don't know where that will be considering the Italian press continues to tell us that the likelihood of Pogba staying at Juventus is quite slim, but we do know that he has seemingly come out of hiding and was in the stands at the Allianz Stadium for the final game before the international break on Oct. 6.
The sudden urge to speak with the press again is understandable now that the appeals process is over with and the punishment for his failed doping test following Juventus' 2023-24 season opener against Udinese has been cut down to the point where he is eligible to play again in March. In an interview with French outlet L'Equipe, the 31-year-old Pogba has described the reduction in the time of his suspension as being "given another chance" to play the game he was easily one of the best in the world at when he was at the height of his powers while also having "a new lease on life" as he starts to count down the days and weeks until he can return again.
"It's like I have been given another chance, I got back what had been taken away and provided with a new lease of life. March feels like it's tomorrow, it'll come fast and I cannot wait."
(source: Football Italia)
Of course, where he will be playing his football when he does make his return to the field is still a complete question mark. As we've said here and other times before, Juventus seem set on negotiating terms on an exit now that the doping ban appeals process has played out and they now where Pogba stands.
Since the doping ban was reduced, Pogba has been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia, Major League Soccer — and potentially a reunion with former France national team teammate Hugo Lloris with LAFC — and, most recently, Olympique Marseille in Ligue 1.
The rumors of a potential move to Marseille, now coached by Roberto De Zerbi, is something that Pogba attributes to another one of his former teammates, Patrice Evra.
"I laugh, because it is Uncle Pat, he said it as a joke. I am still under contract, so it is not credible. I already have a club, so I only thinking about returning and getting out of this situation. Of course, nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so never say never."
Pogba being in the stands for Juve's draw against Cagliari two Sundays ago is the first time he had been really seen at anything Juventus related since his provisional ban was handed down. Over the previous year, the only really sights of Pogba we got was on his Instagram feed or when he was in attendance for France's games at the Euros.
For the most part, Pogba has, according to reports, spent most of the suspension in Turin trying to stay is some sort of good shape despite the fact he couldn't train with the squad that still employs him. (Albeit with the caveat that Juve's paying him the minimum salary possible since the provisional suspension was handed down in September 2023.)
Pogba, whose contract at Juventus runs through 2026, will turn 32 years old in March — which will, of course, coincide with his return to the field around the same time.
"My objective is above all to get back in shape, because I haven't played for a while. There are other players in the France squad, it's not like they will just sit back down because Paul Pogba is available. It's up to me to earn my place."
