Paul Pogba's tenure at Juventus has come to an end, with the Serie A club announcing on Friday that it has terminated the France midfielder's contract. This comes despite his doping ban being reduced to 18 months on appeal.
Paul Pogba's time at Juventus has come to a close, with the club announcing on Friday that it had terminated the midfielder's contract. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently slashed his original four-year suspension, handed down by Italy's anti-doping agency NADO, allowing the 31-year-old to return to competitive football in March.However, Juventus has opted to part ways with Pogba, whose second stint at the club, after rejoining in 2022 from Manchester United, was plagued by injuries and off-field challenges.
Juventus has opted to sever ties with Pogba, whose return to the club in 2022 was marred by a series of off-field issues and injury setbacks.The club also confirmed that the contract termination would be effective as of November 30, 2024. Pogba’s deal had been set to run until 2026.
Pogba expressed his gratitude to the club and its fans in a heartfelt social media message: "You gave me a lot, more than what I could ever say, and I'll always keep with me the love you showed me," he wrote. "You'll always be in my heart. Good luck."
In October, he had offered to forgo his salary in hopes of returning to play for Juventus, but the club’s leadership, including coach Thiago Motta and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, had already spoken of Pogba in the past tense, describing him as "a great player."
Pogba, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, started only one match after rejoining Juventus in the summer of 2022, having previously won four Serie A titles with the club from 2012 to 2016. His last appearance for Juventus was in September of the same year, before he was suspended for testing positive for testosterone.
Paul Pogba’s turbulent time at Juventus has officially ended with the club announcing on Friday that his contract, set to expire in 2026, has been terminated. This decision comes despite his doping ban being reduced to 18 months on appeal.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lowered the initial four-year suspension handed down by the Italian anti-doping authority (NADO), ruling that the failed test was due to a supplement prescribed by a Florida-based doctor. However, CAS also stated Pogba was "not without fault" and should have exercised greater care given his profession.
He had been provisionally suspended after testing positive for testosterone following Juventus' opening Serie A match last season, a 3-0 win at Udinese, where he did not play. The 31-year-old midfielder made just 10 appearances for Juve during the 2022-23 season, mainly due to a knee injury that also ruled him out of the World Cup.
Off the field, Pogba was also the victim of an extortion plot, with six individuals, including his brother Mathias, facing trial. Despite his legal and injury setbacks, his return to Juventus following his 2022 transfer from Manchester United was marred by ongoing issues.
In Pogba’s absence, Juventus underwent significant changes, including a managerial switch and a major summer spending spree to rebuild the squad. The club currently sits sixth in Serie A, just two points behind leaders Napoli, and faces AC Milan after the international break.
(Source: NDTV Sports)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
