In a swift turn of events, Olympique de Marseille has joined the race to sign highly-rated French midfielder Paul Pogba following his close return to play professional football again. Paul Pogba is expected to return to the pitch in early 2025 after his suspension was reduced from four years to eighteen months. The French International appealed the previous ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) and was relieved with the outcome after experts supported his insistence that he had unintentionally ingested a prohibited substance. Although the ruling was in his favor, it is highly unlikely that he will feature for the Italian side - Juventus who he still has an ongoing contract upon his comeback.
Following the appeal, Bianconeri began discussing terminating his contract after months of bad blood between both parties. The process might take some time, but there's little chance that the Italian side will reverse their decision. Juventus is eager to remove Pogba’s salary from their finances before it returns to its pre-suspension level, as he's only been receiving a minimum pay during this suspension period. The Club's representatives are yet to give a positive or exhilarating response to the return of the 31-year-old who returned to the Italian side after a brief spell with his youth team Manchester United. He struggled with a string of injuries in his first season back with Juventus and has only started one game in the last two and a half years.
In a recent interview, Juventus manager Thiago Motta and Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli were asked about the recent development and if they wished for the player to return to their team, The former Barcelona and PSG player brushed off the question by pointing out that the midfielder was great but hasn't played in quite some time, while shifting the press focus on their next fixtures.
During his first spell with Juventus, he was regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, playing both centrally, defensively, and as an attacking midfielder. Pogba was well-regarded for his pin-point long passes and long-range shots. He made 190 appearances for the team, scoring 34 goals and recording 41 assists in Juventus dominating Seria A triumphs in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, also winning the Copa Italia twice (2015 and 2016) and Italian Super Cup three times (2013, 2014 and 2016).
Several teams have already contacted the Frenchman’s representatives for a potential switch to their side once he’s available. This includes teams in the MLS and Saudi Pro League. Recent reports suggest that multiple MLS teams and Olympique Marseille (in Europe) are currently the leading contenders for earning his services. Pogba currently lives in Miami and may naturally transition to playing in the United States. The Los Angeles FC have reportedly shown interest and would likely tempt the sports star with a lucrative offer. A move to Saudi Arabia, like some other Muslim players, is also a possibility, though less likely at this stage.
Roberto De Zerbi was recruited as head coach of OM this summer after the club made their worst top-flight result since the 2015/16 season. Club president Pablo Longoria played a key role in securing high-profile transfers in the summer after 14 players departed the club. He is interested in luring the talented midfielder to his club to help their long-term goal of becoming a formidable force in Europe. Paul Pogba is yet to be fit for games and will likely be out for months. Most sources expect him to play under Thiago Motta at Juventus until the end of the season.
Olympique de Marseille Gets Fresh Injury Blow
Olympique de Marseille has been hit by more bad news even before the start of the international break. Valentin Carboni, who left for international duty with Argentina suffered a left knee injury in training and has returned to Marseille this Thursday. The highly rated attacking 19-year-old midfielder played the first forty-five minutes in their 1-1 draw to Angers last week and has been a crucial part of Roberto De Zerbi’s team since his arrival on loan from Inter Milan. The Argentine Football Association confirmed the injury while ruling Carboni out of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia. It would be a tough setback for the teenager who just started making his mark in League 1.
Carboni is an integral sportsman for Argentina. He is hailed as one of the players who will pass down the legacy of the Sport in the country. He formerly played U17 international games with Italy in 2021, before transitioning to Argentina to play under Javier Mascherano’s U20 team at 17 years, 2 months, and 30 days. He made his senior team debut with Argentina on March 27, 2024, at 19 years and 22 days. The exact timeline for his recovery is yet to be known and he could miss multiple League games that may span up to three months, cutting his spell with Marseille shorter than expected. Carboni is expected to be back in Marseille and will undergo medical tests to assess the severity of his injury.
His injury is a huge blow for Roberto De Zerbi’s team who is already battling to keep up with the injury woes with several players already out. This injury will surely hamper the progress of the Argentine, who had shown early promise by earning playing time at OM.
The club is now plagued by crucial injuries that could further affect their progress. It’s a demanding season for De Zerbi in his first season in charge and the club seeks to return to its history of wins and participation in European competitions. With more first-team players getting injured, the team may look towards the January transfer window to rescue themselves from further heartbreaks soon.
Bamo Meite is still out with a muscle injury but is a possible candidate to feature against Montpellier after the International break in the next two weeks. The Ivorian midfielder has featured in three games this season as a substitute.
Bilal Nadir is sidelined with a cruciate Ligament Injury and was previously expected to be available for Roberto De Zerbi’s side in mid-October 2024. With no new development in his treatment, his return date is unknown. This also applies to Faris Moumbagna (Knee injury), Ismael Kone (Ankle injury), Quentin Merlin (Thigh injury), and Ruben Blanco (Ankle injury).
The club’s medical and fitness teams are working tirelessly to ensure they receive proper treatment and rehabilitation before being involved in advanced first-team training or games. Most key players are expected to be fit and ready to take on Montpellier before welcoming the League’s defending champions before the end of the
Upcoming Games For Olympique de Marseille
Montpellier vs Marseille, French Ligue 1, Sunday 20th October, 19:45 Marseille vs Paris Saint-Germain, French Ligue 1, Sunday 27th October, 19:45 Nantes vs Marseille, French Ligue 1, Sunday 3rd November, 19:45 Marseille vs Auxerre, French Ligue 1, Sunday 10th November, 16:00 RC Lens vs Marseille, French Ligue 1, Sunday 24th November, 16:00 Marseille vs Monaco, French Ligue 1, Sunday 1st December, 16:00 St Etienne vs Marseille, French Ligue 1, Sunday 8th December, 16:00 Marseille vs Lille, French Ligue 1, Sunday 15th December, 16:00
In the new developing news, away fans will be banned from Le Classique after the Bouches-du-Rhône police prefecture issued a prohibition on Paris Saint-Germain supporters attending the match against Olympique de Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome on October 27th. This may likely follow a travel ban for PSG fans from the Ministry of Interior. This decision was not unexpected, as Les Blues fans have been barred from attending away Le Classique games since the incident in 2015.
Stadium bans across French elite clubs are common following multiple concerns of repeating violence between rival fans. Last season, these restrictions were briefly relaxed when Olympique Lyonnais supporters were permitted to attend the Vélodrome for the Choq des Olympiques. However, it took a dark turn and the game was abandoned after Marseille supporters attacked Lyon's team buses, which carried players and fans, on their way to the stadium.
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