Premier League golf equipment ‘eyeing up former Man United star Paul Pogba’ – as Juventus midfielder prepares to finish contract at Italian giants after his doping ban was diminished
- Frenchman played 233 matches and score 39 goals in tumultuous United career
- He was banned for increased testerone levels in 2023 and is leaving Juventus
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Paul Pogba is reportedly the target of growing interest from Premier League sides, as the French midfielder continues talks to end his contract with Juventus.
The 31-year-old swapped Manchester United for Turin in 2022 after a tumultuous stint which saw him play for the club 233 times and score 39 goals.
He had arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 for a world-record £89m fee but failed to meet lofty expectations and fall-outs with a string of managers meant his future was uncertain for his last three years at the side.
A year after his move to Juventus, Pogba was hit with a four-year doping ban after a drugs test found increased levels of testosterone in his system. The star was handed a lifeline last month when the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the sanction from four years to 18 months following an appeal, meaning he can return in March.
The Italian side are expected to terminate Pogba’s contract regardless and clubs from the MLS, Saudi Arabia, and the Premier League are among those showing interest in giving him a platform for a comeback, Sky Sports reports.
Paul Pogba is a target for Premier League clubs ahead of his Juventus contract termination
Pogba saw his doping ban reduced to 18 months, giving the midfielder hope of a comeback
He joined the Red Devils in 2016 for a world-record £89m fee but failed to meet expectations
The Frenchman’s current deal was due to run until summer 2026 but exiting his contract would mean he is free to talk to other teams about a move, with Marseille emerging as a frontrunner last month.
Juventus have engaged in early discussions with representatives from the French side, including sporting director and former defender Medhi Benatia. Official negotiations are not believed to have started yet.
The 31-year-old’s career looked to be finished after he was slapped with a four-year ban in February but this week’s reprieve has given him a second chance.
The suspension, which began in September 2023, will now end next March, with the midfielder able to train from January.
In CAS’ final judgement it was confirmed that Pogba did inadvertently take DHEA, a substance that boosts testosterone that is on WADA’s banned list.
Crucially, however, the ruling states that DHEA only has an affect on females.
Pogba’s appeal took place at CAS’ HQ in Switzerland at the end of August and the player has only recently been informed of the verdict.
The French World Cup winner later released a statement in which he celebrated the end of ‘the nightmare’.
The midfielder’s team have engaged in early discussions with representatives from Marseille, including sporting director and former Juventus defender Medhi Benatia
Marseille, Pogba’s potential new club, are managed by former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi
Pogba recently made an appearance on a stream with influencer IShowSpeed
He said: ‘Finally the nightmare is over.
‘Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.’
Marseille, Pogba’s potential new club, are managed by former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi and caused controversy over the summer when they completed a £30million deal to bring Mason Greenwood from Man United after spending a season on loan at Getafe.
The forward was arrested in January 2022 for allegations of attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour. Charges were later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service following the ‘withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light’.
