Paul Pogba has provided an update on his future with a cryptic Instagram post following his departure from Juventus.
As Mail Sport revealed in October, Pogba and the Italian club had been locked in talks to terminate his contract. He officially left in November, beginning the search for his new club as his return to the game approaches.
The former Manchester United midfielder will be eligible to return to the pitch in January after the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his four-year drug ban to just 18 months in October, Mail Sport can exclusively reveal.
Pogba was originally suspended on September 11, 2023 by Italy’s national anti-doping court (NADO) 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 returned to the club from United in the summer of 2022. However, he is now without a club.
His return as a player will occur in March, although it remains to be seen who it will be with, and he has been linked to several clubs; Meanwhile, on Friday he shared his latest update.
Paul Pogba has provided an update on his future with a cryptic social media post
The midfielder is about to return to play after serving a drug ban for several months.
He left Juventus in November and is now on the hunt for the latest club of his career.
Posting to his 62.4 million followers on Instagram, Pogba shared a black screen accompanied by three emojis. They were a sand timer, a silent face with a zipper and a face that winked with its tongue hanging out.
Exactly what this message means remains to be seen, but it could suggest that he is close to reaching an agreement with a club for his return.
The 31-year-old has been linked with a number of teams upon his return, from former team United to a team in Saudi Arabia and Marseille.
Announcing his second departure from Juventus, he wrote on Instagram: “There are times when things don’t go our way, but one thing is certain: the bond I have with you, dear fans, will remain unforgettable.
‘You have given me a lot, more than I can express in words, and I will always carry with me all the love you gave me. You will be in my heart, always. Good luck, Juventus.”
The Italian giants wrote: “Juventus Football Club and Paul Pogba announce that they have reached a mutual agreement for the termination of his contract as of November 30, 2024. The club wishes Paul the best for his professional future.”
At the end of November, Adil Rami, who lifted the World Cup with Pogba for France in 2018, appeared to send a direct message to the midfielder asking him to join Marseille on home soil.
If he did, he would join the likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Mason Greenwood at the club, while links to another United comeback seem unlikely.
He has been linked with several clubs, including teams in the Saudi Pro League.
His four-year doping ban was reduced after an appeal and he will be able to play again in March 2025.
The former Man United star sat down for an exclusive interview with Mail Sport in October.
Pogba faced a possible retirement from football if the CAS had confirmed his four-year suspension after testing positive for DHEA, a substance that increases testosterone.
However, the 31-year-old has begun planning to restart his career after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled he inadvertently took the banned substance.
Confirming the reduction of Pogba’s sanction, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Pogba can return to training in January 2025.
His original fine of 5,000 euros was also annulled.