Will Paul Pogba ever return for France? Didier Deschamps reveals talks with World Cup winner and sends motivational message following ‘tough’ four-year ban ruling

Pogba, who played a pivotal role in France's World Cup triumph in 2018, is staring at an uncertain future after he was handed a four-year suspension following a failed drug test. With the current verdict, the former Manchester United star is sidelined until the age of 35, posing significant uncertainty regarding his future in professional football.

Deschamps expressed his empathy for Pogba's predicament and hopes that the player is allowed to get back on the pitch as quickly as possible.

“I’ve spoken to him. Psychologically, it’s hard,” Deschamps told reporters.

“The ruling was tough; he filed an appeal, so there will be another judgment. He is going to defend himself with all his strength. I don’t like to be definite about the future. Above all, I hope he can regain the pleasure of playing on the field and then find the France national team again.”

The midfielder has been absent from Juventus training since September 2023 following a precautionary suspension by the Italian anti-doping commission. However, Pogba's legal team remains resolute in their stance as they vehemently deny any deliberate wrongdoing and have pledged to contest the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Rio Mavuba, a former member of the French national team, has claimed that Pogba might have been 'tricked" into taking the banned substance.

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding Pogba's immediate playing prospects, alternative opportunities have emerged, including an unexpected offer from Broke Boys, a team in Russia's Media Football League. It remains to be seen if Pogba accepts the offer and stays in touch with competitive football despite the ban.