Paul Pogba provides update on his future with cryptic Instagram message as former Manchester United star appears to one step closer to comeback following drug test ordeal
Paul Pogba has given an update on his future with a cryptic Instagram post behind his departure from Juventus.
As Mail Sport revealed in October, Pogba and the Italian club were in talks about terminating his contract. He officially left in November and began the search for his new club as he neared his return to football.
The former Manchester United midfielder will be eligible to return to the grass in January after his four-year drugs ban was reduced to just 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in October, according to exclusive news from Mail Sport.
Pogba was originally suspended by Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal (NADO) on September 11, 2023 for elevated testosterone levels, following a random drug test.
The Frenchman’s original contract with Juventus was due to expire in June 2026 after he rejoined the club from United in the summer of 2022. However, he is now without a club.
His return as a player will come in March, but it remains to be seen who that will be. He has been linked with a number of clubs. He shared his latest update on Friday.
Paul Pogba has given an update on his future with a cryptic post on social media
The midfielder is nearing his return as a player after serving a drug ban for several months
He left Juventus in November and is now on the hunt for the latest club side of his career
Posting to his 62.4 million followers on Instagram, Pogba shared a black screen accompanied by three emojis. They were an hourglass, a silent face with a zipper and a wink with the tongue sticking out.
It remains to be seen what exactly this message means, but it could indicate that he is nearing an agreement with a club regarding his return.
The 31-year-old has been linked with a number of sides as he returns from former team United to a Saudi Arabian outfit and to Marseille.
Announcing his second departure from Juventus, he wrote on Instagram: ‘There are times when things don’t go the way we want, but one thing is certain: the bond I have with you, dear fans, will remain unforgettable.
“You have given me so much, more than I can express in words, and I will always carry with me all the affection you gave me. You will always be in my heart. Good luck Juventus.’
The Italian giants wrote: ‘Juventus Football Club and Paul Pogba announce that they have reached a mutual agreement to terminate their contracts with effect from November 30, 2024. The club wishes Paul all the best for his professional future.’
At the end of November, Adil Rami, who won the World Cup for France with Pogba in 2018, appeared to message the midfielder directly to call on him to join Marseille in his home country.
If he were to do so, he would join the likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Mason Greenwood at the club, while links with another United return look far-fetched.
He has been linked with a number of clubs, including teams in the Saudi Pro League
His four-year doping ban was shortened after an appeal and he will be allowed to play again in March 2025
The ex-Man United star spoke to Mail Sport for an exclusive interview in October
Pogba faced a possible retirement from football if CAS had upheld his four-year ban after testing positive for DHEA, a substance that increases testosterone.
However, the 31-year-old has started planning the restart of his career after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled he had accidentally taken the banned substance.
In confirming the reduction of Pogba’s ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Pogba can resume training in January 2025.
His original fine of €5,000 was also quashed.