Manchester City could be preparing to bring Paul Pogba back to the Premier League, as Juventus explores options to terminate the star midfielder’s contract. Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban in March 2024, seemingly ending his top-level career. However, the ban has since been reduced to 18 months, allowing the 31-year-old to return to training in January.
The Manchester Evening News has reported that Pogba is eyeing a Premier League comeback, with Manchester City emerging as a potential destination. This would set the stage for one of football’s most remarkable returns.
According to TuttoJuve, Juventus is actively working to part ways with Pogba, aligning with remarks from the club’s sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, who stated, “The squad is complete” without the French midfielder. Giuntoli added, “Pogba has been a great player, but he’s been out for a long time and last year we had to invest in other players.”
With Juventus looking to move on, Pogba’s future in Manchester remains a possibility. Interestingly, Pogba recently admitted in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport that he once turned down City boss Pep Guardiola when he was a free agent in 2022, opting instead to rejoin Juventus for a second spell.
Now, with the departure of City’s director Txiki Begiristain and the arrival of Hugo Viana, rumors of Pogba potentially joining the Premier League champions could resurface. However, there are significant challenges that might prevent the move from happening.
For one, Pogba’s suspension prevents him from playing until March, meaning City would be signing him for only the season’s final stretch. This limits his immediate impact. Additionally, at 31, Pogba might not fit Guardiola’s long-term vision to lower the average age of his squad, as City’s key midfielders—Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Bernardo Silva—are all in their 30s.
Despite the hurdles, Pogba could still provide a short-term solution as a backup for Rodri. Should Pogba’s ban be reduced further, City might consider a January move. Given the past interest, it remains a situation worth monitoring closely.
