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Paul Pogba will attempt to resurrect his career at a new club after agreeing to cancel his Juventus contract.
The midfielder is widely reported to have agreed to a mutual termination of his deal with the Serie A giants, with confirmation expected on November 15.
The decision comes after his four-year ban for a doping offence was reduced following a successful appeal lodged with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Pogba returned to Juventus in 2022 following his ill-fated world-record move to Manchester United six years earlier, but things have not exactly run smoothly. Knee surgery and subsequent abdominal and hamstring injuries restricted the France midfielder to six Serie A appearances in 2022/23 in what was a miserable campaign for the Old Lady in general. Then, at the beginning of last season, Pogba tested positive for a banned substance that led to a suspension that threatened to bring his elite-level career to a premature end.
However, after a successful appeal, the suspension was reduced and Pogba could now be back on a pitch as early as March 2025. Where that will be remains to be seen.
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Paul Pogba terminates Juventus contract
It was widely reported that Pogba and Juventus had come to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract at the club on November 15.
This had been anticipated. Juve had made it clear that they were planning for a future without him despite his suspension from football being reduced, with Thiago Motta tasked with restoring the Bianconeri's position as the dominant force in Italian football.
Confirmation from the club is expected to be made public soon.
Where will Pogba go next?
Pogba will be a free agent once his contract has been rescinded, meaning he will be free to negotiate with any interested club.
It feels unlikely that one of Europe's elite will make him an offer, due to his age — he will turn 32 next March, the month in which he will be free to play again — and the fact that he has not played a senior game since September 2023.
Clubs from MLS and Saudi Arabia are reportedly interested, as are some sides in Europe.
Why was Pogba banned and why was it reduced by CAS?
On February 29, 2024, Pogba was given a four-year ban from football for a doping violation, having returned elevated testosterone levels following a random drugs test after the match against Udinese last August.
However, following a partially successful appeal, the player had the suspension reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which accepted Pogba's argument that he had accidentally ingested a banned substance after "erroneously" taking a supplement subscribed to him by a doctor from Florida.
CAS said Pogba had not sought a no-fault decision — in other words, he accepted that he was partially at fault for failing the test — but argued that a four-year ban was excessive because he had been assured that the doctor who prescribed him the supplement "was knowledgeable and would be mindful of Mr Pogba's anti-doping obligations under the World Anti-Doping Code". CAS agreed that his ban should be reduced.
"Mr Pogba's case was supported by several experts," CAS said. "Much of the evidence provided by Mr Pogba was unopposed. The CAS Panel determined, however, that Mr Pogba was not without fault and that, as a professional football player, he should have paid a greater care in the circumstances."
In a test conducted by Italy's National Anti-Doping Tribunal (NADO) in August 2023, what are described as "non-endogenous testosterone metabolites" were found in Pogba's system. He was handed a provisional suspension on account of the adverse finding. He had three days to provide an explanation, along with any counter-evidence and analysis, to NADO.
Pogba released a statement in response to the decision in which he made it clear he would appeal against the ban and fight to clear his name, saying he was confident that "the verdict is incorrect".
"I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me," he said. "When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations."
Pogba took his case to CAS and, according to widespread reports on October 4, he was successful in having his ban reduced. CAS confirmed the ruling on October 7.
What is testosterone and why is it a banned substance?
Testosterone is a hormone that occurs naturally in humans and high levels can increase the endurance of athletes.
Drug violations relating to testosterone tend to fall under two categories: an athlete taking synthetic testosterone or using supplements to boost testosterone levels.
If a drugs test finds an individual's testosterone level is above the expected naturally occurring level then it is possible that a doping violation has taken place.
In Pogba's case, CAS accepted that he had ingested testosterone metabolites in violation of anti-doping rules, but it was satisfied that this was done accidentally.
What has Paul Pogba said?
Pogba always maintained his innocence and stressed his confidence that his name would be cleared.
The player's agent Rafaela Pimenta told RMC Sport in September 2023: "We are awaiting the counter-analysis and we can't have an opinion before the results.
"What is certain is that Paul Pogba never meant to break a rule."
Following confirmation of his four-year ban, Pogba said: "I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping's decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect.
"I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me.
"When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations.
"As a professional athlete I would never do anything to enhance my performance by using banned substances and have never disrespected or cheated fellow athletes and supporters of any of the teams I have played for, or against."
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Paul Pogba stats, career, trophies won
Pogba performed superbly for France as they secured World Cup glory in 2018, scoring in the 4-2 final victory over Croatia.
However, his club career had already begun to waver by this stage, as his performances sharply divided opinions with Manchester United, the club suffering mixed fortunes with Pogba at their heart.
After winning the EFL Cup and Europa League in the 2016/17 season, Pogba's relationship with then-manager Jose Mourinho soured.
A relative upturn under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not yield any further major honours, however, and Pogba limping off 10 minutes into a 4-0 thrashing against Liverpool in April 2022 was a grimly fitting final United appearance.
To a large extent, Pogba's career since leaving Juventus in 2016 has been a story of trying to recapture a phenomenal period of success in Turin.
Between 2012/13 and 2015/16 he claimed four consecutive Serie A titles, starring alongside Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio in an imperious midfield quartet as Massimiliano Allegri's side reached the Champions League final in 2015.
They were beaten by the Barcelona of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar but showpiece occasions were generally a time to shine for Juve in that era as they won the Coppa Italia twice and three Supercoppe Italiana.
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