Paul Pogba, the French World Cup winner, has expressed his unwavering desire to return to Juventus despite facing a reduced doping ban. In an exclusive interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Pogba revealed his willingness to sacrifice financial gains for the opportunity to don the Bianconeri jersey once again.
“I’m ready to give up money to play for Juve again. I want to come back with this club,” Pogba declared. “I’m a Juve player, and I’m preparing to play for Juve.”
Pogba’s current contract with Juventus, which expires in June 2026, reportedly earns him eight million euros annually. However, during his suspension, he has been receiving only the minimum salary stipulated in the Serie A collective agreement, amounting to just over €2,000 per month.
Despite the financial implications, Pogba remains adamant about his return. “It will be a new Pogba, a hungrier, wiser, and stronger one,” he asserted. “I just want to play football. I want to be ready to train and play for Juve. That’s all that matters to me right now.”
Pogba’s four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in October 2023. He will be eligible to return to action on March 11, 2024, just days before his 32nd birthday.
The midfielder tested positive for testosterone in August 2023 after a match between Juventus and Udinese. He was provisionally suspended in September and subsequently banned for four years by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February 2024.
Pogba’s representatives have maintained that the testosterone originated from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.
Juventus are reportedly considering terminating Pogba’s contract despite the reduced ban. However, Pogba remains resolute in his desire to return to the club. “I’m a Juve player, and I’m preparing to play for Juve,” he reiterated. “That’s all there is at the moment.”
