Paul Pogba's time at Juventus has come to a definitive end after the Serie A club publicly announced the termination of his contract on Friday. This decision, made mutual between Pogba and the club, follows his recent doping ban reduction, but it seems Juventus is intent on moving forward without the French midfielder.
The termination of Pogba's contract will take effect on November 30, 2024, marking the official end of his association with the club, which was initially set to last until 2026. The club's statement expressed well wishes for Pogba's future endeavors, showing some level of appreciation for his time, albeit fraught with complications, at Juventus.
Pogba himself took to social media to express his gratitude, reflecting on his time at Juventus. "You gave me a lot, more than what I could ever say, and I'll always keep with me the love you showed me," he stated, adding, "You'll always be in my heart. Good luck." His emotional farewell highlights the connection he felt with fans and teammates over the years.
After facing significant setbacks since returning to Juventus from Manchester United, the 31-year-old midfielder has struggled to regain his footing both on and off the pitch. His re-signing with Juve was met with much anticipation, but injuries and off-field issues hampered his contributions to the team. Pogba was optimistic about returning to competitive football after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced his suspension from four years to 18 months last month, allowing him to play again by March 2024. Nonetheless, Juventus took this bold step to dissolve their ties with him marking the end of what was meant to be his comeback story.
His troubles began last season, when he was provisionally suspended following positive tests for testosterone. The doping controversy arose after the Serie A opener against Udinese, where he didn’t even feature, yet found himself embroiled in scandal when the test results emerged shortly after. Initially slapped with a four-year ban by Italy's anti-doping authority, NADO, the situation left his career hanging by a thread.
During the appeal process, Pogba asserted his belief he had accidentally taken the banned substance after using supplements directed by his medical doctor. Although CAS accepted his argument to some degree, stating the failed test was unintentionally induced, it chastised Pogba for not exercising proper caution as a professional athlete, leading to the ultimate reduction to 18 months.
Despite the hopes attached to his potential return, Juventus was clearly ready to move on. Both head coach Thiago Motta and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli appeared to have extended their sentiments to Pogba only when using past tense to describe his influence on the team and his capability on the field. Such comments have suggested Pogba's future with the club had already been written off well before the announcement.
Before the tumultuous events of the past few months unfolded, Pogba had already faced challenges upon returning to Juventus. His last appearance dates back to September 2023, where he played limited minutes due to knee injuries, which also ruled him out of competing at the 2022 World Cup held last December. These setbacks all contributed to the gradual decline of his time with the Italian club, compounded by injuries, the doping scandal, and the extortion case he faced including allegations involving his own brother, Mathias.
Meanwhile, Juventus, who finished third last season without their star midfielder, have energetically turned their eye to rebuilding. With over 120 million euros spent on new signings such as Teun Koopmeiners and Khephren Thuram, the club appears focused on fortifying their midfield without Pogba at its center.
Now, the road lies open for Pogba as he prepares for his next move, possibly training in Miami. The Frenchman's future now lays uncertain as he gets ready to embrace the next chapter of his career after the heavy-handed events of the last year. He aims to prove himself once more, not just to the fans and clubs, but primarily to himself. After all, as Pogba himself stated, he still holds the ‘talent to perform at the top level’ and hopes to stake his claim for returning to Didier Deschamps’ national team.
Though these developments have been difficult, Pogba's resilience may guide him toward new opportunities. Free from the ties to Juventus, he can focus on his fitness and readiness to play again, hopefully proving his naysayers wrong. The football world watches with anticipation to see where the former World Cup winner will land next, and whether he can reclaim the excellence expected from him on the pitch.
