French midfielder Paul Pogba says he would reduce his salary in order to return to play for Juventus next season. The 31-year-old recently had his doping ban reduced from four years to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), is set to return to the pitch in March 2025. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he explained why he is keen to return to the pitch and wants to play for the Old Lady once again:
What kind of Pogba should we expect after this long inactivity?
“It will be a new Pogba: hungrier, wiser and stronger. I have trained alone with the trainers this year and I am ready to return to normality in 2025. I have only one desire, to play football.”
In recent months have you felt more supported or abandoned by Juventus?
“The love of the fans has never been lacking. I could not have contacts with Juve members for legal reasons. Many past and current teammates have always supported me. Cuadrado called me every two days and always made me laugh. Dybala sent me many messages. And then Vlahovic, McKennie, Weah, Kean… I didn’t expect so many, also because each of us has our own problems in everyday life.”
In March you can return to the pitch: have you already spoken with Thiago Motta?
“I haven’t had the opportunity to see him and talk to him, but this moment will come. I think I’ll be ready to train and play with Juve. I am now a player at Juve. In my head there is only this today.”
If Thiago called you, what would you tell him to try to get a new chance at Juventus?
“I don’t have to speak, the field will speak and then Thiago Motta will judge with his eyes, based on what he will see. Talk is nice, but I want to play and for Juve and for France, I want to be the best.”
Would you give up one of your luxurious earrings or something precious to play at least one minute in black and white again?
“I am willing to give up money just to play for Juve again. I want to come back.”
Your number 10 has passed to Yildiz’s shoulders: does it affect you?
“It’s not my number, it’s Juve’s! When I returned to Manchester in 2016, I didn’t take the 10 with me. I told Kenan that he has talent, I love him and he deserves that shirt. I had already understood from the first training sessions that he was a different boy. I immediately told my teammates: Yildiz must come to the first team. The 10 is not mine, it will always be Juve’s. Juventus did well to think about the present, I was banned for 4 years when they assigned 10 to Kenan.”
Giuntoli is starting to negotiate Vlahovic’s contract renewal, which expires in 2026: if the Serbian asked you for advice?
“As a friend I would tell Dusan to follow his heart. As a teammate, instead, I tell him to stay at Juve.”
If you think back to the last year, did you fear falling into depression as happened to other players?
“It was a very difficult year, the thing that hurt me the most was passing in front of the stadium and Continassa every day to take my children to school without being able to enter and train or play with Juventus. I felt like a caged lion. At one point I wanted to leave Italy with my family because this situation hurt my heart too much.”
Months later and after all this affair, have you understood the reason that led you to take the incriminated supplement?
“The wrong thing was not to review what a professional gave me. I repeat: a professional. Like many players, I have a personal chef, trainer and physiotherapist, it has always been like this even in Manchester. It’s not a question of reading the label better, a professional outside the club had given it to me. But I won’t repeat the same thing, that’s for sure.”
Are you more regretful of leaving Juventus in 2016, of the return to black and white in 2022 or of not having immediately operated on the meniscus at the beginning of your second adventure?
“I didn’t decide alone not to have surgery, no one in a big club chooses individually. We took that group path and the doctors said it could have been done too. I don’t regret anything, life is like that.”
Let’s talk about the future. Scudetto: will Juve, Inter of your friend Marcus Thuram or Napoli of your former coach Conte win?
“I hope Juve wins.”
Can you tell us an anecdote about Conte?
“Antonio is very strong tactically, once against Parma he was giving instructions and told Chiellini to make a pass “inside”. Only that by shouting the opponent also understood and we conceded a goal. Conte struck me because then he apologized for the goal conceded.”
And Allegri?
“With him one shirt was not enough, I always told him that. We organized a farewell dinner when he left Juve and he paid for everything. I would see Max anywhere, but I’m not his agent: maybe in England.”
Has your friend Ibrahimovic called you to try to bring you to Milan?
“Ibra will always be Ibra, a club legend: with his experience he can give a lot to the Rossoneri. Call me to bring me to Milan? Zlatan knows I’m under contract with Juve.”
In the future will it be possible to see you in Italy with a shirt other than Juventus?
“Today it’s impossible, I don’t see myself with another shirt. My focus now is to wear Juve’s again.”
Your great friend Evra suggested you to Marseille: are you joining Rabiot?
“Uncle Pat knows my situation, he said so as a joke because he’s friends with Benatia and because he played at the Velodrome. No, I’m not surprised to see Rabiot at Marseille, but I imagined he would go to England.”
When you left Juventus in 2016, you gave luxury watches to teammates and staff. Now, in case of a new farewell, would you do it again?
“Today I don’t want to think about leaving and saying goodbye to Juve. In my first experience in black and white I had won titles and had come to play for France, I was young. I felt in my heart that I had to make this gesture of watches. The most surprised were the warehouse workers.”
Is it true that in the past, you said no to Guardiola for Juventus?
“Yes.”
Which other top coach would you like to be coached by before ending your career?
“Ferguson. I had him, but only a little: I was young.”
Have you started thinking about a new World Cup with France and has Deschamps opened the doors for you?
“The World Cup dream is there, but Deschamps hasn’t opened doors to anyone. It’s me who has to open it: he advised me to work.”
Is Bellingham the new Pogba?
“No, Jude is Bellingham.”
Quickly. Tevez or Ronaldo?
“Both of them.”
Pirlo or Kante?
“Both.”
Conte, Allegri or Mourinho?
“I’ve been good with all three, even with Mourinho.”
Who will win the Champions League?
“I hope Juve. It has a 1% chance, like all teams.”
Are the chances of seeing you again in March with Juventus higher or lower than 1%?
“It doesn’t all depend on me, but also on Juve’s projects and how I train. I want to get to the level of the others to keep up with Thiago Motta’s team: now the reality is that I am a Juve player and I am preparing to play for Juve.”
