Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has dropped his strongest hint yet that he is ready to hand Paul Pogba a career lifeline.
The former Manchester United tested positive for testosterone in August last year and was handed the maximum punishment by Italy’s anti-doping court.
But the Court of Arbitration for Sport judges cut Pogba’s ban for a lack of intent, accepting that his positive test was the result of erroneously taking a supplement prescribed by a doctor in Florida.
Italian giants Juventus came to a mutual agreement with Pogba to cancel his contract, despite the 2018 France World Cup winner having a doping ban slashed.
He can resume playing in March, the same month he turns 32.
‘I would like to have only champions in my team. Pogba has always been a champion but honestly, during my discussions with staff, we have never spoken about it,’ began the Italian in a press conference on Friday speaking about a possible Marseille move for the World Cup winner.
He added, ‘But if champions are arriving, we can try and find space for Paul Pogba.’
Earlier this month, Pogba’s former teammate Adrien Rabiot, who has also relaunched his career at Marseille revealed he was hoping for a reunion.
‘I would like to play with Paul,’ Rabiot told DAZN. ‘He is highly invited to come and play at Marseille.
‘What we’re putting into place here is really very good. There’s a real dynamic (and) we have ambition.’