For Pogba, who has been out of the spotlight of fans for a long time, October 7 can be called a "reborn" anniversary. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has declared the France midfielder successful on appeal, with the ban drastically reduced from four years to 18 months, from 11 September 2023 to 10 March 2025. After the appeal was successful, Pogba immediately negotiated a termination of his contract with Juventus and was ready to enter the ball market as a free agent. The big leagues such as Paris and Marseille have been rumored with Pogba, and in addition, the North American major leagues and the Saudi league are also interested in signing the midfield superstar who still has a huge influence.
Pogba, who tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) last August, explained that the banned ingredient came from a food supplement recommended by a prominent sports rehabilitation doctor in Miami when he was training alone in the United States, but he did not know the ingredients of the supplement. After Pogba's B urine sample was still positive in October last year, Juventus imposed an indefinite suspension on Pogba, who originally had an annual salary of up to 8 million euros after tax, and could only get a minimum annual salary of 42,477 euros before tax, which is equivalent to 1/300 of the previous annual salary. Pogba, on the other hand, insisted that he had no intention of taking it wrongly and did not accept an "out-of-court deal" that could reduce his ban to two years after he pleaded guilty.
Last December, the Italy Anti-Doping Tribunal sentenced Pogba to a four-year ban. The France midfielder immediately appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which eventually reduced the ban to one and a half years, half a year less than the two years of the "guilty plea deal", which is the best result. The key to the success of the appeal was that the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed that Pogba had taken it by mistake and that the banned ingredient dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was found to be more effective on female athletes and almost ineffective on male athletes, with no incentive to take it actively.
A successful appeal would allow Pogba to restart his career, having said he would not retire when he was sentenced to a four-year ban in December, still wanting to continue playing. Pogba immediately negotiated a termination of his contract with Juventus, and although he still has feelings for Juventus, his team-mates and his life in Torino, he and his Bolivia wife, Sule, who has always been a staunch supporter, believe that leaving Italy to start a new life is more beneficial to Pogba's future.
Pogba and Juventus quickly negotiated the termination of the contract, on the one hand, due to the major changes in Juventus' management and coach during the more than a year of ban, Juventus's new coach Motta has long been without Pogba in his team building plan, and he is more likely to be re-employed. On the other hand, as the court with his brother is nearing the end, he and his wife can finally escape the nightmare of years of control and blackmail by their relatives, and leaving Italy is the beginning of a new life. In addition, the France Football Federation's support for him is particularly crucial, giving Pogba hope of participating in the 2026 World Cup.
ESPN, Les Politisons and Sport have all revealed that Juventus will terminate Pogba's contract with him for the final year's salary. If Pogba returns to the Juventus squad this season, the Bianconeri will pay the France an additional €3.5 million in annual salary, as well as a possible €2 million in bonuses. But Juventus' plan to cut high-paid players has been going on, and an early termination of Pogba's contract is also part of the plan. Previously, Juventus had let go of high-paid players such as Szczesny and Chiesa.
Pogba, who has not yet been freed, has received positive feedback from the ball market. According to Milan Sport, Pogba may follow the example of former France teammates Olivier Giroud and Lloris and go to the North American major leagues to play. But France media Le Corps and Radio Monte Carlo have given more radical speculation: Pogba is likely to stay in the top five leagues. The newspaper believes that Paris is interested in signing free agent Pogba, and Pogba's France team-mate Patrice Evra is actively pushing Pogba to join Marseille. Radio Monte Carlo believes that Pogba would prefer to stay in the big five leagues and maintain his top competitive form for the World Cup than North America and the Saudi league, which are also interested in him.
Although the Spain media claim that Real Madrid and Barcelona have expressed no interest in Pogba, Pimenta, the female agent of the France midfielder who is close to the European giants, has enough time to find a home for her players in the top five leagues. United Kingdom media revealed: Many Arsenal fans suggested that the club seize the opportunity to sign Pogba to strengthen the midfield in the winter window to cope with the second half of the season in the multi-front title race.
In any case, Pogba's successful appeal has made him a favourite in this winter window. Although he has not played for more than a year, Pogba has been actively treating injuries and rehabilitation, and after returning from a ban in early March, the healthy and free France midfielder is still a cost-effective option in the market.