Paul Pogba ‘is contacted by a sporting director over potential move away from Juventus’ – as midfielder prepares to end contract at Italian giants after his doping ban was reduced

Paul Pogba has reportedly been contacted by a sporting director over a potential move away from Juventus as the midfielder prepares to end his contract at the Italian giants.

The Frenchman swapped Manchester for Turin in 2022 after a tough spell at United which saw him make 233 appearances and score 39 goals.

He had joined the Red Devils in 2016 for a world-record £89m fee but failed to meet the lofty expectations and fall-outs with various managers meant his future was uncertain for the last three years of his stint at the club.

A year after his move to Juventus, Pogba was hit with a four-year doping ban after a drugs test found increased levels of testosterone in his system. 

Pogba was handed a lifeline earlier this month when the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the sanction from four years to 18 months following an appeal, meaning he can return in March.

Juventus are expected to terminate Pogba’s contract, with La Provence and le10sport reporting Marseille have shown an interest in giving Pogba a platform for a comeback. 

Pogba saw his doping ban reduced to 18 months, giving the midfielder hope of a comeback

He joined the Red Devils in 2016 for a world-record £89m fee but failed to meet expectations

The midfielder’s team have engaged in early discussions with representatives from the French side, including sporting director and former Juventus defender Medhi Benatia.

Official negotiations are not believed to have started yet.

Marseille are not the only side inquiring into Pogba, with various clubs in the MLS believed to be poised to make a move should the France international become a free agent.

The 31-year-old’s career looked to be finished after he was slapped with a four-year ban in February but this week’s reprieve has given him a second chance.

The suspension, which began in September 2023, will now end next March, with the midfielder able to train from January. 

In CAS’ final judgement it was confirmed that Pogba did inadvertently take DHEA, a substance that boosts testosterone that is on WADA’s banned list.

Crucially, however, the ruling states that DHEA only has an affect on females.

Pogba’s appeal took place at CAS’ HQ in Switzerland at the end of August and the player has only recently been informed of the verdict.

The French World Cup winner later released a statement in which he celebrated the end of ‘the nightmare’.

He said: ‘Finally the nightmare is over.

The midfielder’s team have engaged in early discussions with representatives from the French side, including sporting director and former Juventus defender Medhi Benatia

Marseille, Pogba’s potential new club, are managed by former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi

They caused controversy over the summer when they completed a £30million deal to bring Mason Greenwood from Manchester United

‘Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.’

Marseille, Pogba’s potential new club, are managed by former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi and caused controversy over the summer when they completed a £30million deal to bring Mason Greenwood from Manchester United after spending a season on loan at Getafe.

The forward was arrested in January 2022 for allegations of attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour. Charges were later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service following the ‘withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light’.