Ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, rumors circulated that Paul Pogba was spotted at the City training ground. These claims, however, have been quickly debunked.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the 31-year-old midfielder, who, although has been linked with a potential move to Pep Guardiola’s side, was not present at the club’s facilities on Thursday.
KEY PLAYERS ON GROUND YESTERDAY:
Manchester City are preparing for a crucial match against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Saturday, and while the rumors about Pogba’s presence were false, several key players, including Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Erling Haaland, Ortega, and Ederson, were seen training with the team.
Their presence suggests that Guardiola’s squad is in good shape ahead of the crucial fixture. Aston Villa may well be a good giveaway for City to win over, especially with the rate of recent training. Just on Wednesday (December 18th, 2024) City’s squad trained while it was raining.
RECALL:
Paul Pogba, who had been with Juventus, is now a free agent after agreeing to terminate his contract with the Italian giants in November 2024. Pogba’s recent career has been marred by a doping suspension handed down earlier this year.
Originally banned for four years, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the suspension to 18 months, meaning Pogba will be eligible to return to football in March 2025.
The midfielder’s departure from Juventus marks the end of an era at the Serie A club, and speculation around his next move continues to grow, despite these recent claims of him training with Manchester City being proven false.
QUOTES:
In his statement, Pogba reflected on his time at Juventus:
“My time at Juventus has come to an end. It has been a privilege to pull on the shirt of the bianconeri and to share so many special moments together. Even in the most difficult moments over the past year, your support was crucial and I want to thank Juve fans around the world for their compassion.”
Juventus also issued a statement on Pogba’s departure:
“Juventus Football Club and Paul Pogba announce that they have reached a mutual agreement for the termination of their contract as of 30 November, 2024. The club wishes Paul the very best for his professional future.”
CITATIONS:
Fabrizio Romano – Transfer expert, on the false rumors regarding Pogba’s presence at Manchester City’s training ground.
Paul Pogba – Statement shared by the midfielder following his departure from Juventus.
Juventus FC – Official statement regarding the mutual termination of Pogba’s contract.
KEEP IN MIND:
Despite the claims about Paul Pogba joining Manchester City, the rumors have been debunked, with no immediate move on the horizon. With Pogba still facing a ban until March 2025, his return to football is uncertain, but top clubs may start eyeing his situation as he becomes eligible again. For now, Manchester City’s focus remains on their important fixture against Aston Villa.
