Roberto De Zerbi Hints At Marseille's Interest In Paul Pogba Amid Doping Ban

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Roberto De Zerbi has hinted at the possibility of Marseille pursuing Paul Pogba. The Olympians' manager expressed a desire for champions in his squad. Pogba, now a free agent, parted ways with Juventus last month by mutual agreement. The 2018 World Cup winner is currently serving an 18-month doping suspension, reduced from four years. He can resume training in January and return to competitive play two months later.

Marseille is among the clubs reportedly interested in Pogba, with club president Pablo Longoria indicating they are open to signing the 31-year-old. Although De Zerbi stated he hasn't discussed a transfer, he seemed receptive to accommodating Pogba. "I would like to have only champions in my team," he told reporters. "Pogba has always been a champion, but honestly - during my discussions with staff - we have never spoken about it."

Currently, Marseille holds second place in Ligue 1 with 30 points, trailing leaders Paris Saint-Germain by 10 points but with a game in hand. De Zerbi's team is set to face Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de France round of 64 on Sunday, marking their final match of 2024.

De Zerbi emphasized the importance of finding players who meet the team's needs come January. He mentioned that integrating top players wouldn't be an issue for him but rather a challenge for their opponents. "In January, we especially need to find players for the needs we have," he said. "Obviously, if champions arrive, we will try to find space and make sure they can live together."

Pogba's potential move to Marseille remains speculative as no formal discussions have taken place yet. However, De Zerbi's openness suggests that if Pogba joins, he would be welcomed into the team without hesitation.