Paul Pogba’s club career has been a rollercoaster ride. After leaving Manchester United as a teenager, the Frenchman shone so brightly for a Juventus side that had the likes of Pirlo, Tevez, Buffon, and Arturo Vidal. He also made it to the UEFA Champions League final with Juventus, where they lost to Barcelona in 2015.
Except for his time at Manchester United, Paul Pogba’s club career, including his return to Juventus, has been forgettable. Pogba may have played his last match for Juventus due to a potentially lengthy ban from football following a failed doping test, leading the Italian giants to significantly reduce his salary.
Juventus slashes Pogba’s salary to $2,120 amid doping controversy
Paul Pogba has endured a torrid time since returning to Juventus in 2022 following the expiration of his contract with Manchester United. Injuries kept Pogba out for the whole of the 22/23 season, with the World Cup winner just recently returning to full fitness this season, making a few appearances for the Italian giants in the process.
Sadly, his return has been shortlived amid a doping controversy that could see Juventus terminate Pogba’s contract when they learn how long the Frenchman might be out. According to GOAL, Juventus, who are being dragged to court by former employee Cristiano Ronaldo, have informed Paul Pogba of their decision to reduce his salary through a formal letter. Regulations in Italy state that suspended players are entitled to the minimum wage by the Collective Agreement with the Italian Association of Footballers, which is around $2,120 monthly.
This is way below what is stipulated in his contract that runs until 2026, which is supposed to earn him $11 million yearly. Juventus may as well decide to terminate his contract altogether, as the club is waiting for an update from the player’s representatives before making any long-term decision on his future at the club.
What did Paul Pogba test positive for?
The National Anti-doping Organization in Italy conducted an anti-doping test for Paul Pogba in their season-opening win over Udinese, and sadly, the result came back positive. Testosterone was detected in the test, leading to a temporary suspension for the former United midfielder.
Pogba submitted a second sample for another test to be conducted, and that also came out positive. According to Reuters, if found guilty, the Frenchman could be suspended for up to four years, which may be the end of the road for the World Cup winner, as no club would be willing to take a chance on a 34-year-old who hasn’t played any competitive game in four years.
What will be the length of Paul Pogba’s suspension if found guilty?
