Paul Pogba will return back to what he loves doing earlier than previously scheduled after having his four-year ban reduced to 18 months, but what more is there to be loved for a man lost in his own world.
As the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner sets to return to the pitch, he already has to worry about where to play, with Juventus already threatening contract termination, while in his 30s, no close to elite club will have him, given the controversies surrounding him before his suspension.
For an average team, he is unaffordable. Perhaps a move away from Europe will be his final respite, but that will mean the name Paul Pogba will only be remembered for the unruly reasons in elite football.
Paul Pogba set for return in 2025
On 11 September 2023, the Italian anti-doping agency announced that the talented midfielder had tested positive for testosterone following a test conducted after a Serie A match against Udinese.
Despite the protest of the Juventus man, the drugs test was again carried out and confirmed, after another sample was found to have also had non-endogenous testosterone metabolites present in his blood in October.
Earlier this year in February, Pogba was slapped with a four-year ban by the Italian Anti-Doping National Tribunal, with the option to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The 31-year-old has now had a successful approach at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and he can start training in January in order to regain match fitness, ahead of a return back to the pitch for the Bianconerri in March.
“Finally, the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again”.
“I always stated that I never knowingly breached Anti-Doping regulations, I play with integrity and I want to thank the Court of Arbitration who heard my explanation”.
“This has been a hugely distressing pediod in my life because everything I’ve worked so hard has been put on hold”.
“Thank you for all the love and support. I can’t wait to get back on the pitch!”. Pogba said in the wake of the reduction of his ban.
However, more events has followed the news of his return, and they have not been the best for the Frenchman, as Juventus now wants a contract termination. Pogba’s troubles seem to have no end, since they kicked off in the summer of 2016.
The return to Old Trafford : A Journey down the curve
One of the most talented midfielders of the modern day football, Paul Pogba started as a star right from his early days. In an era where attackers seems to own the headline, his talent was just so pure to be underneath any of his colleagues.
After he left Manchester United in 2012, he from winning the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkiye with France in 2013, where he won the Player of the tournament, to winning the Golden Boy award later in the year.
Pogba, instantly became a mainstay in the Juventus midfield as a 20-year-old, despite having a list of veteran to compete with. He was named the Bravo Award winner at the end of his second season in Italy.
The first day Pogba trained with us at Juventus, we all laughed. How could Manchester United let a player like that leave on a free transfer to join us. Buffon came to me laughing and said, “Did they really let him go for free?” – Andrea Pirlo said in an interview.
His four year with Juventus brought him unprecedented success, with only a win in the UEFA Champions League final the missing piece to complete football with the Old Ladies. They were beaten by Barcelona in the 2015 final.
Aside the collective glory of winning four Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia, two Italian Super Cup, Pogba was also named in the Serie A team of the season on three occasions, one UEFA team of the year and one FIFA FIFPRO World XI appearance. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Rio de Jenairo, he was named Young Best Player of the tournament.
The troubles began when he accepted a return to Manchester United in the summer of 2016, in a move that saw him became the club’s most expensive signing till date.
Pogba never enjoyed his football at Manchester United like he did at Juventus. Although he did won the UEFA Europa League title in his first year back, under Jose Mourinho in 2017 — he was also named the player of the tournament.
During his five years at United, the French national team was the major source of joy. The former RC Lens scholar had a sensational outing for Les Bleus in Russia, and those who saw him in that tournament must confess he is a genuine baller.
A haunted man in his hurt
In an interview in March 2022, Pogba said that he had suffered from depression whilst playing under José Mourinho in 2018. The constant criticism and pressure from the club’s fans, who are witnessing their club at its lowest did not also help his cause.
After the end of his regrettable return to Old Trafford, Paul Pogba returned to the home that brought smiles on his face after he initially turned down an extension at Manchester United almost a decade earlier. This time, the reunion has not gone as planned.
From the blackmailing controversy involving his own brother Mathias in 2022 to series of injuries, which forced him to only 12 appearance since his return to Turin, it has been one turmoil after another.
The failed dope test in 2023 also came at a time where he was supposed to rejuvenate his career after recently recovering from a muscle injury in the final weeks of the 2022-23 campaign, which had kept him out all summer.
Now that he is set to return once again, Pogba will be 32 when he makes his return and obviously no longer at the peaks of his powers. And any doubt of a future at Juventus has been put to bed.
Unwanted by Juventus
At the start of the season, Juventus gave Pogba’s number 10 shit to youngster Kenan Yildiz. At the time, there was no cause for alarm as the Frenchman’s contract would have run out before his scheduled return in 2027, when he will even no longer be under contract with the Bianconerri.
However, following the recent news, the club did not wait for a debate on the shirt number topic before clearing the air on Pogba’s future at the club — Juventus wants to terminate their agreement.
Speaking on the future of Paul Pogba ahead of his return in 2025, Juventus director Giuntoli referred to the player’s career in past tense, saying;
“We will make a decision after the official statement from TAS. He was a great player but he’s been out for long time… let’s wait and see what happens”.
The same pattern can be extracted from the statement of the current coach Thaigo Motta, who said; “He is a great player… He hasn’t played for a long time. I’m only focused on the present and the club will decide what to do.”
Agreement has now been reached between the two parties to terminate a contract, which was to run until the summer of 2026.
What next for Paul Pogba
The one time great midfielder will most likely have alternatives, which may not be in Europe probably due to the financial implications that may come with his signature. The middle East clubs could capitalize and add him to the ever-growing list of stars from Europe.
For Pogba, the priority for the remainder of his playing days will not necessarily competing to be the best, but enjoying the few years, and leaving the beautiful game with a good impression, so that when the name Paul Pogba is mentioned, it’ll be remembered for the fun memories, and not for the currently predicament it finds itself in.
Hassan Afolabi
