Paul Pogba free to return to the pitch while the doping ban ends but the search for a club continues

Paul Pogba can come back in competition on Tuesday while the 18 -month doping ban from the former star of France expired – but he needs to find a club.

The player who honored Manchester United and Juventus midfielder hopes to take three chaotic years behind him and is looking for a new employer in order to play in the 2026 World Cup, with the MLS side of David Beckham, Inter Miami, among his possible options.

The midfielder capped at 91 times suffered repeated injuries and an uneven form which led to his departure from United in 2022. He returned for a second visit to Juventus, where the problems continued to the dog.

A drug test failed after a match in Italy in August 2023 led to a four -year doping ban which was reduced on appeal.

Pogba blamed a food supplement prescribed by a doctor whom he consulted in the United States for the positive test.

Juventus ended his contract last November, but Pogba “trains at 1,000%, he is in a good mood, he received many offers,” insisted a member of his entourage.

His ultimate dream remains the World Cup next year, but a player who will be 32 years old this week should first convince the coach of France Didier Deschamps.

Pogba is in regular contact with Deschamps, “one of his advisers for sports decisions”, according to one of the player’s close friends.

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But who could be interested in signing a player whose last match dates back to September 3, 2023, when he aligned himself for Juventus?

In January, Pogba declared on social networks that he had received “proposals, not very interesting things”, like “going to play in Russia, but that is not the objective”.

A contract, he admitted, “does not depend on me, but on many other things”.

Inter Miami could be a solution.

Pogba lives in Florida and was in the Stands of the first MLS match of Inter this season, against New York on February 23. He works on his physical condition with the fitness coach of Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar of the team.

Dossier photo: Paul Pogba by Manchester United recognizes the fans after the Premier League match against Newcastle United. | Photo credit: Reuters

Pogba shared photos of its intensive training sessions with its 62.7 million Instagram followers, as well as fashion photos, its other passion.

The French club Marseille would also be interested in the director of football Medhi Benatia who played alongside Pogba at Juventus.

But Marseille may not want to take the risk of enlisting a player whose shape will be uncertain after such a long absence.

Pogba’s personal life has also gone through a turbulent period – he was the victim of a case of kidnapping and extortion in 2022 for which his brother Mathias and five of his childhood friends received prison terms.

“I can finally turn the page on this extremely painful period,” said Pogba after the end of the trial in December of last year.

“This conclusion is an opportunity for everyone to focus on the future.”