Juventus boss Thiago Motta offers huge hint on Paul Pogba’s future at the club after the ex-Man United midfielder’s doping ban was reduced on appeal

Thiago Motta has discussed Paul Pogba‘s future at Juventus after the midfielder’s doping ban was reduced.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Friday that Pogba’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport had been successful.

As a result, the 31-year-old will be able to return to football in March – 18 months after his career was initially put on hold.

The ruling means Pogba could be available to play a part in Juventus’ run in at the end of the current campaign.

However, Juve boss Motta appeared reluctant to make any decisions on whether Pogba will feature again for the Serie A side when asked about the news.

Mail Sport revealed on Friday that the 31-year-old has successfully appealed his doping ban

‘The club will assess the situation and make a decision if necessary,’ the 42-year-old said on Saturday.

‘Paul was a great player but he hasn’t played for a long time. All I’m thinking about is our match tomorrow, nothing else really matters as far as I’m concerned.’

Motta was appointed Juventus boss in June, nearly a year after Pogba was initially sanctioned.

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

‘Finally the nightmare is over.

‘Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, 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.’

Pogba was initially handed a four-year ban after testing positive for banned substance DHEA following Juve’s Serie A opener against Udinese last season.

The ban has now been reduced to 18 months, meaning Pogba would be eligible to return in March

The former France international returned to the Old Lady in the summer of 2022 after making more than 200 appearances in all competitions in his second stint at Manchester United.

His first season back in Serie A was curtailed by a series of injuries that saw him watch much of the campaign from the sidelines and forced him to miss France’s run to the final of the 2022 World Cup.

Pogba’s current contract at Juventus is set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 season.