Paul Pogba's time at Juventus has officially come to an end after the Serie A club announced on Friday that his contract had been terminated, even though his doping ban was reduced to 18 months on appeal. Pogba will be eligible to return to competitive football in March following the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) decision to cut his initial four-year suspension, imposed by the Italian anti-doping authority (NADO), to 18 months. However, Juventus have opted to sever ties with the 31-year-old, whose return to the club from Manchester United in 2022 was marred by a series of injuries and off-pitch controversies.

In a statement, Juventus said, "We and Pogba have reached a mutual agreement for the termination of his contract, effective from 30 November, 2024."

The French midfielder's contract was initially set to run until 2026.

Pogba Bids Emotional Farewell

Pogba shared a heartfelt message to Juventus supporters on social media, saying, "You gave me so much, more than I could ever express, and I'll always carry the love you showed me in my heart. Good luck."

In October, Pogba had expressed his willingness to forgo wages in order to play for Juventus again. However, his plea fell on deaf ears at the "Old Lady" of Italian football.

The decision to part ways with Pogba comes as little surprise, given that both manager Thiago Motta and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli had previously referred to him in the past tense, stating, "He was a great player."

A Career Marred by Setbacks

Pogba, who was a key figure in France's 2018 World Cup-winning campaign, has struggled to make an impact since rejoining Juventus. The midfielder, who won four Serie A titles during his first stint with the club between 2012 and 2016, started just one match after returning in the summer of 2022.

His last appearance for Juventus came in September 2023 during an away match against Empoli, shortly before he was provisionally suspended for testing positive for testosterone.

Details of the Doping Ban

The positive test occurred after Juventus’ opening Serie A fixture of the 2023-24 season, a 3-0 victory over Udinese, in which Pogba did not even feature. He was subsequently handed a four-year ban by NADO in February 2024, a punishment that placed his career in jeopardy before CAS reduced the suspension.

CAS accepted Pogba’s explanation that the failed test resulted from unintentionally consuming a supplement prescribed by a medical professional in Florida. However, the court maintained that Pogba was not entirely without fault, emphasising that as a professional footballer, he "should have exercised greater care in such circumstances."

Injuries and Off-Pitch Issues

During the 2022-23 season, Pogba was limited to just 10 appearances for Juventus, primarily due to a persistent knee injury. This injury also ruled him out of the World Cup in Qatar, where France ultimately lost to Argentina in the final in December 2022.

Adding to his troubles, Pogba became embroiled in a high-profile extortion case, with six men, including his brother Mathias, now facing trial over the incident.

Juventus Rebuild

In Pogba’s absence, Juventus embarked on a significant rebuild, bringing in new manager Thiago Motta and a host of fresh players. The club invested heavily in the summer transfer window, spending over €120 million on midfielders such as Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz, and Khéphren Thuram.

Despite finishing third in Serie A last season without Pogba, Juventus are now sixth in the table, just two points behind leaders Napoli. Following the international break, Juventus are set to face AC Milan at the San Siro in a highly anticipated clash.