Italy’s record football champions Juventus Turin are apparently examining legal options for a separation from Paul Pogba. The B sample of the French national player was recently found to have too high a testosterone level. The 30-year-old has been temporarily banned since his positive A sample became known on September 11th. Italian media reports that Juventus now wants to get rid of Pogba.
Until the ban, the midfielder was the highest-paid professional in the squad with a net salary of eight million euros. After the positive doping test, the salary was reduced to the minimum wage of 42,477 euros per year – that’s what the rules stipulate.
If a ban of more than six months is imposed on Pogba, Juventus could terminate the contract, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. In the event of a ban lasting more than a year, the club could not only save on the payments due for the coming years, but also demand high compensation from the player.
Pogba faces a long ban
Pogba faces a four-year ban for doping. This could be reduced by half if the 2018 world champion can prove a lack of intent. According to Gazzetta, Pogba was under the supervision of a US specialist who prescribed him a supplement containing testosterone. Pogba is said to have taken the drug without consulting the Juventus doctors beforehand.
Terminating the contract would be a financial relief for the Old Lady. As the club announced, the loss in the 2022/23 financial year was 123.7 million euros. That is almost half less than the record minus of 239.3 million in 2021/22. To curb losses, Juve is planning a capital increase of 200 million euros. Turin is controlled by the Exor holding company, owned by the traditional Agnelli family of entrepreneurs.