Paul Pogba has reportedly had to live on a ‘minimum wage’ at Juventus since being slapped with a four year doping ban that has now been reduced.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Friday that the French midfielder has had his initial four year drugs ban slashed to just 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Pogba was initially facing a likely retirement had the ban been upheld after he tested positive in August 2023 for DHEA which boosts testosterone and is on WADA’s banned list.
However, the decision to reduce his ban means Pogba can now resume training with Juventus in January and will be able to play his first competitive fixture as of March 2025.
His career revival will also see the former Manchester United star return to the mega salary that he was handed by Juventus when he signed a four-year contract at the club.
Paul Pogba has reportedly been paid a ‘minimum wage’ salary by Juventus after being banned for droping
Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Friday that the French midfielder has had his initial four year drugs ban slashed to just 18 months
Pogba had his mega-money contract in Italy slashed to just £1700-per-month after being banned
Since being banned, Pogba has seen his pay package cut to ‘minimum wage’ that will now receive a welcome boost to put him amongst Serie A’s top earners, as reported by Gazzetta.
It is believed that the 31-year-old has been living off a £1700-per-month salary instead of the usual riches that comes with being one of the sport’s biggest stars.
Should Juventus decide to keep the World Cup winner in their ranks then his wage will return to around £10.4m-per-year reflective of the deal Pogba signed for the club as a free agent.
That wage works out at around £200,000-per-week which will be a welcome boost for the ex-Premier League star who previously decided to leave Old Trafford at the expiration of his contract.
However, it is yet to be seen whether Juventus will keep Pogba in their ranks now they have discovered when the superstar personality can be back on the pitch.
Pogba later released a statement celebrating the end of ‘the nightmare’ as his appeal against the original ban was successful.
‘Finally the nightmare is over. Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again,’ he said on Instagram.
The Frenchman will now soon return to his previous £10.4m-per-year deal agreed with Juventus
‘I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes.
‘I play with integrity, and although I must accept that this is a strict liability offence, I want to place on record my thanks to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judges who heard my explanation.
‘This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold.
‘Thank you again for all the love and support. I just cannot wait to get back on the pitch.’