Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba together for Manchester United. (Image: Getty.)
Paul Pogba could be set for a reunion with his former Manchester United team-mate Mason Greenwood, with the French midfielder reportedly in advanced talks to join Marseille.
The 31-year-old had been suspended from all football activities for four years after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone, but saw his provisional ban reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Juventus man is now allowed to return to the sport in March.
“Finally the nightmare is over,” said Pogba in a statement. “Following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.”
However, Pogba’s time at the Serie A giants is thought to be over. He has missed the past 14 months due to the ban and various reports claim that it is unlikely he will continue his career with Juventus under new boss Thiago Motta.
And Ivorian outlet NCI claims that Pogba is already in extensive talks with Marseille, with the expectation that he will agree to a contract termination with Juventus. He is available to train in January and is likely to sign for a new club during the winter transfer window.
Marseille are said to have been in discussions with Pogba for a number of weeks in order to bolster Roberto De Zerbi’s squad, following a strong start to their Ligue 1 campaign.
Paul Pogba is expected to leave Juventus despite having his suspension reduced. (Image: Getty)
Les Phoceens sit third in the table thanks to five league goals from Greenwood, having signed the one-cap England international on a £26million deal from Manchester United.
Marseille also boast familiar names such as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Jonathan Rowe, Adrien Rabiot and Neal Maupay in their ranks, as they bid to topple Paris Saint-Germain.
A move back to his homeland would allow Pogba to link up with Greenwood once again after playing for United together, with the Frenchman very complimentary about the forward’s abilities.
“Mason I think he’s more left-footed, he dribbles more with his left but to shoot he shoots with both,” Pogba told Stadium Astro in 2021. “His finishing is unreal, he’s the best finisher I’ve seen, trained with.
“He’s the youngest but he’s just unbelievable and I hope he score more goals and improve and win titles. He’s very young and very talented and I want to push him even better.”
He later added to Sky Sports: “Mason is a big-talented player that we had from our academy. He can go to the highest level, world-class, it just depends on him. He has to work hard, harder than everyone, believe in himself and want it.
“When you’re talented like this, you already have talent, now it’s only the work you put in to make you become the world-class player you have to become with this talent. It depends on him. I will always be the guy to push him, not praise him too much, but push him to get to the level he should arrive at.”
Pogba may soon play his football alongside Greenwood again, though neither of the pair would have expected a partnership to rekindle in Marseille.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1959672/Paul-Pogba-Mason-Greenwood-Marseille-next-club