Paul Pogba has not ruled out a future move to Ligue 1 after his close friend and former teammate Patrice Evra joked about a transfer to Marseille. The 31-year-old midfielder recently had his doping ban reduced from four years to 18 months following an appeal. Initially banned in February due to elevated testosterone levels found in a drug test, Pogba’s suspension was lessened by the Court of Arbitration, which noted that he “should have paid greater care in the circumstances.”
Currently contracted to Juventus, Pogba will be eligible to resume training with the Serie A club in January 2025, with a return to competitive action anticipated in March. Despite this, speculation is rife that he could leave Juve before the end of his suspension. Marseille is reportedly interested and has initiated discussions for a potential January transfer involving the 2018 World Cup winner.
Evra, who has long been a supporter of Pogba, expressed that he was not surprised by the reduction of the ban. “I was with Paul just three weeks ago. He was very confident. The ban was very severe; they wanted to set an example. Justice has been done,” Evra stated. He emphasized his close bond with Pogba, referring to him as a “little brother” and expressing optimism for his return to the pitch.
Joking about Pogba’s future, Evra mentioned his intention to contact Marseille’s sporting director Mehdi Benatia, a former teammate at Juventus, to facilitate a transfer. “He wants to play football, wherever it is. Why not Marseille, for example?” Evra quipped, showing his enthusiasm for the idea.
Pogba responded to Evra’s playful remarks during an interview with *L’Equipe*, acknowledging the humor in Evra’s comments. “I’m laughing because it’s Uncle Pat. He said that jokingly; you know him. I’m still under contract, so it’s not credible,” he remarked. However, he left the door open for a potential move to Ligue 1 in the future, saying, “We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Why not play in Ligue 1? I don’t have to say no.”
Currently, Pogba has two years left on his contract with Juventus, which runs until June 2026. His return to full fitness has been challenging, as he has only made 12 appearances for the Italian giants, largely due to a significant knee injury sustained shortly after rejoining the club. As Pogba prepares for his eventual return to competitive football, his future remains uncertain, but the prospect of a move to Ligue 1 has certainly piqued interest among fans and pundits alike.