Paul Pogba could become a free agent after opening talks with Juventus with a view to terminating his contract, a source has told ESPN.
Pogba has had a four-year ban for a doping offence reduced to 18 months after launching a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The midfielder can restart training in January 2025 and would be eligible to return to competitive action in March.
A source has told ESPN that both Pogba and Juventus are open to the prospect of the Frenchman restarting his career elsewhere.
He has a contract with the Serie A club until June 2026, but a mutual agreement could see the deal end early, allowing the 31-year-old to sign with another club.
Pogba has only made 12 appearances for Juventus since returning following his departure from Manchester United as a free agent in 2022.
His last competitive appearance was as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 win over Empoli more than a year ago.
Pogba was provisionally suspended in September 2023 before being handed a four-year ban in February. He gave evidence at an appeal in the summer and last week was cleared to begin playing again early next year.
A statement issued by Pogba on Friday read: “Finally the nightmare is over. I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.
“I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes.
“I play with integrity and, although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation.
“This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.”
