Paul Pogba ready to ‘give up money’ to play football for Juventus again | Football News

The midfielder wants to be part of France’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but says the decision lies with coach Didier Deschamps.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is keen to return to football after his doping ban was reduced from four years to 18 months and said he dreams of playing with France at the 2026 World Cup.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lifted the 31-year-old’s ban earlier this month after he was provisionally suspended by the Italian National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO Italia) in September 2023 following a positive test for DHEA, a banned substance was increases testosterone levels.

Pogba, who appealed to CAS arguing that taking DHEA was unintentional, will be able to play for Juventus again in March – and he said he is stronger, wiser and even willing to take a pay cut to play for to play the Italian club.

“I am ready to return to normality in 2025. I only have one wish: to play football. The reality is that I am a Juve player and I am preparing to play for Juve,” Pogba told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday.

“I don’t have to speak, the pitch will speak and then.” [coach] Thiago Motta will judge with his own eyes based on what he sees. I’m willing to even give up money to play for Juventus again. I want to come back,” added the player, who has a contract with Juventus until June 2026.

Pogba, who last played for Juventus in a 2-0 win at Empoli over a year ago, said receiving the initial ban was the most difficult moment of his career.

“It was a very difficult year and what hurt the most was that I spent every day outside the stadium and (Juventus training center) Continassa taking my children to school without being able to go in to train for Juventus to train or play.

“Many former and current teammates have always supported me. [Juan] Cuadrado called me every other day and always made me laugh.”

Pogba added that as well as returning to his best for the Serie A side, he would also like to return to Didier Deschamps’ France squad in time for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.

“The dream of the World Cup is there, but Deschamps hasn’t opened the doors for anyone. It’s up to me to open them, he told me to work,” said the midfielder.

Pogba’s contract with the Italian giants expires in June 2026 and is currently worth eight million euros ($8.684 million) per year.

During his current ban, the midfielder will only receive the minimum salary set out in the Serie A collective agreement – just over 2,000 euros ($2,170) a month.