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

The midfielder is eager to join the French team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he acknowledges that the final choice rests with coach Didier Deschamps.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is looking forward to getting back on the field now that his doping suspension has been shortened from four years to 18 months. He expressed his hopes of representing France at the 2026 World Cup.

Earlier this month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the suspension of the 31-year-old athlete. He had been temporarily banned by Italy’s National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO Italia) back in September 2023 after testing positive for DHEA, a prohibited substance that increases testosterone levels.

Pogba, who reached out to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) claiming that he didn't mean to take DHEA, will be allowed to play for Juventus again in March. He mentioned that he feels stronger, smarter, and is even open to accepting a lower salary to continue with the Italian team.

"I’m eager to go back to normal by 2025. My only wish is to get back to playing football. The truth is, I’m a player for Juventus, and I’m currently getting ready to play for the team," Pogba shared with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday.

"I don’t need to say anything; my performance on the field will do the talking, and then [coach] Thiago Motta will evaluate me based on what he observes. I’m even willing to sacrifice some financial benefits to return to Juve. I really want to come back," said the player, who is under contract with Juventus until June 2026.

Pogba, who hasn’t played for Juventus in over a year since their 2-0 victory against Empoli, mentioned that receiving the first suspension was the toughest period of his career.

"It was an incredibly tough year, and what pained me the most was having to stand outside the stadium and Juventus’s training center, Continassa, every day while I took my kids to school, unable to step inside to train or play for Juventus."

I've had a lot of teammates, both from the past and present, who have been incredibly supportive. Juan Cuadrado would check in on me almost daily and always knew how to bring a smile to my face.

Pogba mentioned that in addition to regaining his top form with the Serie A team, he also aims to be a part of Didier Deschamps' France team for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

"The aspiration to compete in the World Cup is alive, but Deschamps hasn’t given anyone a chance yet. It’s my responsibility to make that happen through my hard work," the midfielder expressed.

Pogba’s agreement with the Italian club is set to end in June 2026 and his current annual salary is eight million euros (about $8.684 million).

While he is suspended, the midfielder is earning merely the lowest pay outlined in the Serie A collective agreement, which amounts to just over 2,000 euros (approximately $2,170) each month.