Paul Pogba could make a sensational return to Manchester United after his contract with Juventus was terminated following a doping ban, a former Red Devils striker has suggested.
The 31-year-old left Manchester for Turin in 2022 after a tumultuous spell in which he made 233 appearances for the club and scored 39 goals.
He arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 for a world record £89million but failed to live up to the high expectations. Problems with a string of managers have left his future uncertain over the past three years.
A year after his move to Juventus, Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban after a drug test revealed elevated testosterone levels in his system. The star was given a lifeline in October when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the sentence from four years to 18 months following an appeal.
This means the French World Cup winner can resume his professional career in March, but he is currently without a club after agreeing to end his contract with the Italian giants last month.
Now former United star Louis Saha has told Casino Utan Spelpaus that his compatriot will return to Old Trafford to take part in training with the squad, now managed by Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim.
Paul Pogba could be preparing for a return to Man United, according to a former player
The midfielder saw his doping ban reduced to 18 months, which gave him hope of a comeback
Now former Red Devils star Louis Saha has suggested he might come along for training
The 46-year-old said: ‘I’ve heard rumors that Paul Pogba will get the chance to come back and train with Man United in the new year and I think that would be a great opportunity for Paul.
‘He needs to get back to his best level as quickly as possible and training with top players will help him do that. I think he would be happy if he got the chance to return to the club.
‘I also think that Paul Pogba is still a very special player. When you think of midfielders, Pogba has unique qualities.
“I think the United team lacks strength in midfield, and we lack a skilled player who can play box-to-box, so he would be a good addition.” [to the United squad] because he has a different player profile than United.’
Saha also suggested that Pogba would be happy to take a pay cut if it meant he would get the chance to appear in a United shirt again.
“Looking at Pogba, I think many teams in the region would find it an attractive proposition to sign him as a free agent,” he added. ‘Forget the salary, I’m sure Paul is willing to find a compromise on that, because he wants to play football again after so long on the sidelines.
‘When I think about Pogba, there are more positives to signing him than negatives and I think he is a player that should interest Manchester United in January.
“All the top clubs in the Premier League should see Pogba’s free transfer as a great opportunity. That’s how I see it.’
Pogba is seen as a target for Premier League clubs following the termination of his contract with Juventus
He joined the Red Devils in 2016 for a world record fee of £89 million but failed to live up to expectations
Pogba recently appeared in a stream with influencer IShowSpeed
This was reported last month clubs from MLS, Saudi Arabia and the Premier League are among others featured interest in giving him a platform for a comeback.
Juventus are reportedly in early talks with Marseille representatives, including sporting director and former defender Medhi Benatia. It is believed that official negotiations have not yet begun.
The 31-year-old’s career appeared to be over after he was handed a four-year ban in February, but October’s reprieve gave him a second chance.
The suspension, which started in September 2023, will now expire in March, with the midfielder able to train from January.
The final decision of the CAS confirmed that Pogba had accidentally taken DHEA, a testosterone-boosting substance on the WADA banned list. Crucially, however, the ruling states that DHEA only affects women.
Pogba’s appeal took place at the CAS headquarters in Switzerland in late August, but the player was only informed of the verdict weeks later.
The French World Cup winner later released a statement celebrating the end of ‘the nightmare’.