French World Cup winner Paul Pogba on Thursday vowed to fight to regain his place in the line-up at the Italian giants Juventus once his ban for doping expires next March.
The 31-year-old midfieder was suspended from competition for four years in February 2024 after he failed a post match drugs test in August 2023.
Pogba, who scored to give France a 3-1 lead in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which said the ban should be reduced to 18 months.
"I am a Juve player and I am preparing to play for Juve," Pogba told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I'm prepared to give up money to be able to play for Juve again," he added. "I want to come back to this club."
Before leaving Juventus for Manchester United in 2016, Pogba won eight trophies with including four Serie A titles.
During his time in Manchester, Pogba was part of the squad which claimed the League Cup and the Europa League.
Return
His return to Italy has been marred by injuries which kept him out of the France's 2022 World Cup squad.
On Monday in an interview with the French sports channel L'Equipe TV, Pogba said: "Football is the strawberry cake that was taken out of my mouth. But the nightmare is over. I am really looking forward to coming back."
His return, though, might find obstacles. Rumours have been circulating in the Italian press that Juventus want to terminate Pogba's contract.
Newly installed Juventus boss Thiago Motta might also relegate Pogba's role.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star took over at Juve after two seasons at Bologna. The 42-year-old ex Italy international has made a positive start to the campaign with three wins and four draws from the first seven games.
"I want to be ready to train and play with Juve," Pogba told Gazzetto dello Sport. "I am a Juve player, in my mind, that is all there is at the moment."
