Pogba: ‘Marseille report not credible, I have Juventus contract’ | OneFootball

Juventus-owned Paul Pogba said that seeing his four-year ban reduced to 18 months is like ‘another lease of life’ for his career, claiming reports of an Olympique Marseille deal are ‘not credible.’

The midfielder was given the heavy ban after failing a doping test for a Serie A match at the start of the 2023-24 season.

He lodged an appeal that was partially accepted, reducing the suspension to 18 months, so he can be back on the field in March 2025.

“It’s like I have been given another chance, I got back what had been taken away and provided with a new lease of life,” Pogba told L’Equipe.

“March feels like it’s tomorrow, it’ll come fast and I cannot wait.”

Pogba ready to return, but do Juventus want him?

Juventus have been very vague about whether they intend to continue with Pogba once he is available or to terminate his contract by mutual consent.

Many assume the latter, in which case he could go to Major League Soccer or return to France, where Roberto De Zerbi’s Olympique Marseille are waiting with open arms.

It is certainly a proposal that his former Juve teammate Patrice ‘Uncle Pat’ Evra has suggested.

“I laugh, because it is Uncle Pat, he said it as a joke. I am still under contract, so it is not credible,” replied Pogba.

“I already have a club, so I only thinking about returning and getting out of this situation. Of course, nobody knows what tomorrow holds, so never say never.”

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – JULY 01: Paul Pogba is seen in attendance in the stands prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between France and Belgium at Düsseldorf Arena on July 01, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Despite barely setting foot on the pitch for over two years now at Manchester United and then Juventus, the veteran still has his sights set on the 2026 World Cup.

“My objective is above all to get back in shape, because I haven’t played for a while. There are other players in the France squad, it’s not like they will just sit back down because Paul Pogba is available. It’s up to me to earn my place.”

Meanwhile, Pogba has not been resting on his laurels, as he spoke to L’Equipe at the premiere of a new movie that he is in as an actor, called Quatre Zeros.

“Marcus Thuram wrote to me about it, I also exchanged a message with Didier Deschamps, because we had a mutual friend involved in the production.

“Of course I am still in contact with Deschamps, he has always been there and supported me, even before this situation. I am very grateful to him.”