Olympique Marseille’s sporting director, Mehdi Benatia, has confirmed the club’s continued interest in signing Paul Pogba this summer, despite the midfielder’s ongoing recovery from a doping ban.
Pogba, who has previously played for Juventus and Manchester United, is expected to return to competitive football in March after his doping suspension was reduced from four years to 18 months following a successful appeal. While the 30-year-old prepares to make his comeback, Marseille is closely monitoring his situation with a view to a potential transfer.
In an interview withL’Equipe, Benatia expressed his admiration for Pogba, highlighting the French midfielder’s leadership qualities and passion for the game.
“Pogba is special. He is a player, a man that I and Pablo Longoria like a lot,” Benatia said. “For a group, it is very important to have a leader, a real footballer, a passionate person like Paul.”
However, Benatia also acknowledged the challenges surrounding a potential deal. “Unfortunately, he has had injuries in recent years, and then came the disqualification. We thought about it and wanted to do it, but the problem is that he is not yet in shape,” he explained.
The Marseille sports chief further elaborated on the club’s cautious approach, considering Pogba’s current lack of match fitness. “Would it make sense, also considering how much media attention it could have, to make an investment now for a player who will not be useful until the end of the season?” he questioned.
Benatia, however, reassured fans that the club remains open to the idea of signing Pogba when the time is right. “I know he would have loved to come, and we will monitor developments over the next six months. If there is something to be done, we will be happy to have a player like Pogba to help us next year. But the opportunity will have to arise,” he added.
With Pogba’s return to the pitch on the horizon, it remains to be seen if Marseille will make a move to secure the French star in the summer transfer window. The club is clearly weighing its options, carefully considering the potential impact of bringing the talented midfielder back to Ligue 1.
