Paul Pogba's return nears! Ex-Man Utd midfielder 'gives speech to Adidas staff' on visit to sports giant's HQ amid plan for sensational football comeback

According to the Daily Mail, the recently released Juventus player was a special guest at an Adidas event earlier this week as he plots his comeback to football - with his doping ban nearing its end. The report states the 31-year-old gave a speech to staff on a day that gave him a chance to thank the company for sticking by him during this tough period.

The former Manchester United star has not played the sport since September 2023 after testing positive for a banned substance. But following a successful appeal, the Frenchman's ban was reduced from four years to 18 months. He can begin playing again from March 2025, with the now-free agent hoping a team signs him up. Many companies would have dropped Pogba from their sponsorship roll over this incident but it seems he is very grateful they stuck by him over the past year or so.

The 2018 World Cup winner considered retiring from football over alleged extortion and threats from an organised gang in 2022, before the doping ban came to light.

He said in September 2023: "Money changes people. It can break up a family. It can create a war. Sometimes I was just by myself thinking, ‘I don’t want to have money anymore. I just don’t want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people, so they will love me for me – not for the fame, not for the money.’ Sometimes it’s tough."

Pogba will reportedly train at United's training ground in Carrington from January 2025 onwards until he finds a new club. Where his next port of call is remains to be seen.