Juventus is exhibiting a cautious stance regarding the return of Paul Pogba, even after his four-year doping ban was shortened to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The French World Cup winner is set to be eligible to resume his career in March 2025, expressing his eagerness to return to the field. However, Juventus appears to be taking a more measured approach.
Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli stated, “We’re waiting for the sentence documents, then we’ll make a decision.” He acknowledged Pogba’s past success but highlighted his lengthy absence from the game, saying, “He was a great player but he’s been out of action for a long time.”
Coach Thiago Motta echoed these sentiments in his pre-match press conference, emphasizing that the club will determine Pogba’s future. “For me, he was a great player, he hasn’t played for a long time. Now I’m focused only on tomorrow’s match, everything else matters little to me at the moment.”
Pogba, aged 31, achieved the distinction of being the most expensive footballer in history when he transferred from Juventus to Manchester United in 2016 for a fee of €105 million ($113 million). He played a pivotal role in France’s World Cup triumph in 2018 and returned to Juventus as a free agent in 2022. However, injuries plagued his second stint at the club, limiting him to just eight Serie A appearances before his suspension. It remains uncertain if Juventus will welcome him back into the fold, leaving the future of the talented midfielder hanging in the balance.
