New Delhi: Despite the reduction of Paul Pogba’s doping ban to 18 months on appeal, the Serie A team confirmed on Friday that the France midfielder’s contract had been terminated, ending his Juventus career. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last month overturned the initial four-year punishment imposed by the Italian anti-doping agency NADO, allowing Pogba to resume playing professional football in March.
However, Juventus have chosen to sever their relationship with the 31-year-old, whose 2022 return to Turin from Manchester United was marred by a number of issues both on and off the field. Pogba and Juventus have reached a mutual agreement for termination of Pogba’s contract as of 30 November, 2024,” according to a statement made by the club. The Frenchman’s contract was set to expire in 2026, but it seems that he the club were not in favour of keeping him at the club.
This is what Pogba had to say to the fans
🚨🚨| OFFICIAL: Paul Pogba is now a FREE agent after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with Juventus! ✅ pic.twitter.com/lmhIP1Q8da
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) November 15, 2024
Pogba had some kind words to say on social media to Juventus supporters; “You gave me more than I could ever express, and I will always remember the love you gave me” “You’ll be in my heart forever. Good luck.”
Pogba’s October declaration that he was “willing to give up money to be able to play again with Juve” was met with silence from the “Old Lady” of Italian football. Given that coach Thiago Motta and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli have frequently used the past tense when discussing Pogba, stating that “he was a great player,” Juve’s announcement is hardly shocking.
After returning to Juventus in the summer of 2022, where he won four Serie A titles from 2012 to 2016, Pogba, who won the World Cup with France in 2018, started just one game. Shortly before receiving a provisional suspension for testing positive for testosterone, he played his final game for Juventus against Empoli in September of last year.
A closer look at the Doping ban
🗣️ “I would just like to be on the pitch”
In a UK TV exclusive with Sky Sports, Paul Pogba talks for the first time since his ban for a doping offence. pic.twitter.com/iepz0eGRBO
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 16, 2024
That test followed Juventus’ 3-0 victory over Udinese in their first Serie A match of the previous season, in which he did not even play.
NADO then imposed a four-year suspension on him in February, endangering his career until CAS lowered the penalty. Pogba’s claim that the failed test was the consequence of him mistakenly taking a vitamin that a Florida doctor had prescribed, and this claim was eventually accepted by CAS.
However, Pogba was not fully innocent as he should have paid more care in the circumstances, as a professional football player, so CAS did not fully absolve him.
Pogba only made ten appearances for Juventus in the 2022–2023 season, mostly because of a knee injury that also prevented him from playing in the World Cup in Qatar, where France lost to Argentina in the December 2022 final.
Six men, including his brother Mathias, have been ordered to stand trial in connection with the organized extortion case he was the victim of. As part of a rebuild, Juventus brought in a number of new players and replaced Massimiliano Allegri as manager while Pogba was away.
Juventus’ current situation without Paul Pogba
Lived it.. Loved it..
Thanks for everything Paul. One of the greatest midfielders of his generation. 🇫🇷👑 pic.twitter.com/AgrkTKWEdI
— Forza Juventus (@ForzaJuveEN) November 15, 2024
During a busy summer transfer window, Juventus, who finished third last season without Pogba, spent more than 120 million euros on midfielders Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz, and Khephren Thuram. It was looking rather less likely for the former Manchester United star to start for the Old Lady, considering the fact that he had been 0ut for a pretty long time, and the list of midfielders that Juve managed to sign were consistently performing for their previous clubs, meaning there was a lot of competition for the 31-year-old
After the international break, they take on AC Milan at the San Siro, where they are now two points behind league leaders Napoli in sixth place in Serie A.
Juventus have officially terminated Paul Pogba’s contract following his doping ban, even after the suspension was reduced on appeal. The French midfielder’s brief return to Turin ends amidst controversy. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
