Paul Pogba, who is seeing a third spell at Manchester United speculated on, has been warned a return to football will be “tough” after 18 months out.
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World Cup winner serving doping banReleased by Serie A giants JuventusLinked with clubs in Europe & AmericaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The World Cup winner will be cleared to resume his professional career in March 2025 after serving a doping ban which initially stood at four years but was reduced on appeal. Serie A giants Juventus have taken the decision to release Pogba from his contract in Turin.
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The France international is now a free agent and mulling over his options. There has been talk of Pogba following Lionel Messi to MLS, while he could be reunited with former Manchester United team-mate Mason Greenwood at Ligue 1 outfit Marseille.
Getty ImagesWHAT WES BROWN SAID
It has also been suggested that Pogba will be given the chance to train with United in the new year, as he works his way back towards fitness, but ex-Red Devils defender Wes Brown has told of the 31-year-old potentially earning another deal at Old Trafford: “I'm not sure about Paul Pogba coming back to United for a third time. I can't see it happening. Paul, obviously, as an individual player, he's absolutely class. I've always loved how he played.
“Again, he gets a lot of stick, but there is no doubting his ability as an individual. Being out for 18 months will be tough for him – it will take him some time to get back to the levels we’ve seen him produce before. I know he'll be training somewhere, but it’s a bit different training in isolation, not being around world-class players. Someone will definitely pick him up, no doubt about it, but I can't see it's going to be Man United if I'm being honest.”
WHAT NEXT?
Pogba is a product of United’s academy system and savoured Europa League and League Cup success during his second spell in England. He is eager to get his career back on track somewhere, with big calls on his immediate future needing to be made.