Paul Pogba opens transfer talks with new club

Tom Weber

Updated: 12 Oct 2024 20:13 BST
3 min read

'Initial discussions' have taken place between Paul Pogba and Olympique de Marseille, according to French media.

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The World Cup winner is set to return to professional football in March. Pogba was banned from the game for four years after elevated levels of testosterone were discovered during a drug test, but his sentence has now been reduced to just 18 months.

This means that the former Man Utd star can return to the pitch next year. Though Pogba is still on the books at Juventus, his future does not lie in Turin, with club chiefs having all but confirmed Fabrizio Romano's reporting that they are looking to terminate the Frenchman's contract.

The 31-year-old will therefore be free to choose his next club and speculation surrounding his next destination has been rampant. Major League Soccer is said to be one option for him, but the one club most persistently linked has been Olympique de Marseille.

Marseille open informal talks

In fact, shortly after it was announced that his ban had been officially reduced, a rumour emerged that Roberto de Zerbi's side were already in 'advanced talks' to sign the midfielder.

French media, however, was quick to play down the links between Pogba and Marseille at the time. Now, a fresh association has emerged, with local outlet La Provence reporting that initial, informal discussions between the club and the Juve man have indeed taken place.

However, it has not yet become anything concrete. Sporting director Mehdi Benatia has simply made contact with Pogba's camp to test the waters regarding his availability and potential willingness to join the club.

Since appointing De Zerbi, Marseille have pulled off some ambitious transfers, notably signing Mason Greenwood, Elye Wahi, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Adrien Rabiot, who left Juventus on a free transfer similar to what Pogba is bound to do.