Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has encouraged his former club to explore signing Paul Pogba on a short-term contract once the Frenchman’s suspension ends in March 2025.
Pogba, who last played a competitive match in August 2023, was initially handed a four-year ban for a doping violation, leading to the termination of his contract with Juventus.
However, the 30-year-old midfielder’s ban has since been reduced to 18 months following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Sagna, who played alongside Pogba for the French national team, believes a move to Arsenal could benefit all parties involved.
I’ve always said that Paul Pogba would be a great addition to Arsenal. I think he could be an asset for the team. With his creativity, a short-term contract would benefit everyone. It would help Paul get back to fitness and quality,” Sagna told Megadice.
Once regarded as one of the world’s top midfielders, Pogba joined Manchester United for a then-record £89 million fee in 2016 and went on to win the 2018 World Cup with France.
However, his time at Old Trafford was marred by injuries and inconsistent performances, leading to his departure for Juventus in 2022.
Despite the previous links to a potential return to Manchester United, those rumors have now been dismissed as Pogba looks for his next opportunity.
The player himself has expressed renewed motivation, stating: “I’m still the same player, but with a different hunger. I am more motivated. I will appreciate the game more than before after it was taken away from me. I realized how important it is.”
While Pogba will be able to start training with a club in January, it is unlikely that any team would sign him until the start of the next season, given that he would not be eligible to play until March and would need time to regain match fitness.
In addition to discussing Pogba, Sagna also named Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres as his ideal signing for Arsenal, praising the Swedish forward as “amazing” and “incredible.