Juventus is set to terminate Paul Pogba’s contract as the Frenchman is expected to face a lengthy ban.
Pogba has been under suspension since the earlier months of the season due to a failed drug test.
Despite the Frenchman defending himself, recent reports suggest that prosecutors have recommended the harshest possible punishment, and he could potentially be banned for four years.
In response, Juve has already taken steps to move on from the situation and is planning to sign a replacement for the midfielder in January.
Pogba has seen limited playing time at Juve since his return to the club at the beginning of last season, primarily due to recurring injury problems.
While his injury struggles have been known, the news of a failed drug test ban has surprised both the Bianconeri and football enthusiasts in general.
As Pogba awaits his punishment, a report on Football Italia indicates that Juventus is prepared to terminate his contract as soon as the sentence is announced. The club is already geared up to part ways with the 2018 World Cup winner and is awaiting the official verdict.
Juve FC Says
Pogba’s second spell with us has been a disaster, so keeping him at the Allianz Stadium is no longer possible.
As soon as he is banned, we need to act and terminate his contract.
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Manchester United fans have been quick to respond after Alejandro Garnacho made his Champions League debut for Chelsea against Bayern Munich. The Spanish-born winger’s time at Old Trafford ended last summer when his relationship with Ruben Amorim hit a breaking point. He had already fallen out of favour with United before the switch. By then, the Blues were already leading the chase for his signature, and eventually completed the deal during the summer transfer window. Chelsea ended up paying £40m to bring him over from Old Trafford, securing one of their top targets of the window. The 21-year-old was handed a contract running through 2032. On Saturday, he was named on Chelsea’s bench against Brentford before making his debut late on as they secured a draw. The same occurred in the 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening, with Garnacho’s Champions League debut sparking a flurry of reactions on social media. What Manchester United fans said about Alejandro Garnacho during Chelsea vs Bayern Munich in the Champions League Garnacho started again on the bench for Chelsea’s trip to Munich, and he was brought on in the 68th minute, replacing Pedro Neto. The Argentine has yet to secure a regular starting spot for Enzo Maresca’s side, although it is still early days for him at Stamford Bridge. Still, Garnacho is under some pressure from United fans after departing the club in controversial circumstances. Since his move, Chelsea have not won a match, and many United supporters took to X to share their thoughts on his time with the Blues so far. One user wrote: “Garnacho moved to Chelsea to have a better career.” Another added: “Manchester United fans [are] realising Chelsea [haven’t] won a single match since adding Garnacho to their squad.” A third commented: “Chelsea fans must think Garnacho plays like [Cristiano] Ronaldo, and that Manchester United are the ones ‘killing his career.’” “Garnacho, as a winger, has more backwards passes than [Trevoh] Chalobah in this [match]. He’s only [been] on for 15mins [sic],” a fourth user posted. Another one questioned: “Why exactly did Garnacho join Chelsea? Left Manchester United just to sit on the bench; can’t even start the way he did for us.” Chelsea fall to Bayern in Champions League opener despite Garnacho’s debut Alejandro Garnacho was brought on for Chelsea after the Blues had already fallen behind 3-1 at the Allianz Arena. Bayern went ahead in the first half when Trevoh Chalobah scored an own goal against Maresca’s side, a setback quickly followed by another for the Blues. Seven minutes after the opening goal, Harry Kane converted a penalty for Bayern. Two minutes later, Cole Palmer pulled one back for Chelsea. However, Bayern took a 2-1 advantage into half-time and added another goal through Kane in the second half to put the game out of reach. The defeat means Chelsea’s first points of their European campaign will have to wait. Their next match comes on Saturday when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
A Wednesday report shared that the Miami Dolphins "did a lot of work in the offseason to try to transform their team culture" before they opened the ongoing campaign with back-to-back losses. For a lengthy piece published on Thursday, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN expanded on alleged culture issues that have impacted the Dolphins under head coach Mike McDaniel, who has been in his role since 2022. Mike McDaniel hasn't run a tight ship with Dolphins "Multiple sources in and around the team said tardiness was an issue throughout this past season," Louis-Jacques revealed. "...One current Dolphins player said he believed some captains this past season took advantage of the role. [Cornerback Jalen Ramsey] and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who were two of the eight players voted captains in 2024, were among repeat offenders who received numerous fines throughout the season. Players were often late to practice and meetings, with multiple team sources suggesting it reflected a lack of respect for the first-time coach McDaniel -- who was hesitant to publicly admonish players outside of posting fines." On Wednesday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted that Dolphins players "believe the culture is better after the franchise moved on from several key players, many of whom did not appear happy there." Specifically, Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith were traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a pick swap in June. Safety Jevon Holland left the Dolphins and signed with the New York Giants in free agency. As for Hill, questions about his dedication to the cause arose when he subbed himself out of Miami's regular-season finale and then told reporters that he was "out" this past January. He later publicly apologized for his actions but has remained the subject of trade rumors through September. Are McDaniel and Dolphins general manager Chris Grier on the hot seat? Whispers throughout the offseason suggested Dolphins owner Stephen Ross could part ways with McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier if the club finished this season without at least a playoff appearance. McDaniel has yet to guide the Dolphins to a single postseason win, and his team was coming off an 8-9 campaign before it dropped two straight games this month. "A source familiar with Ross' thinking told ESPN this offseason they don't believe McDaniel's and Grier's job security is as simple as 'playoffs or bust,' and reiterated that sentiment after Week 1," Louis-Jacques wrote. "...Although there is a limit to [Ross'] patience with the team's results. After a winless start to the 2025 season, and prime-time games against division opponents coming, there will be increased outside attention on how far Ross' patience will stretch." As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had the winless Dolphins as massive 11.5-point road underdogs for Thursday night's game at the 2-0 Buffalo Bills. One can't help but wonder how Ross may react if Miami gets blown out at Buffalo's Highmark Stadium.
Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack will be out for a few weeks after dislocating his elbow during Monday night’s matchup with the Raiders, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Who will take Khalil Mack's place for the Los Angeles Chargers? The injury is not season-ending, but Los Angeles will need one of its depth outside linebackers to take Mack’s place for the time being. That will likely be veteran Bud Dupree, who replaced Mack on Monday and has significantly more experience than third-year UDFA Caleb Murphy or fourth-round rookie Kyle Kennard. At the moment, it seems unlikely that the Chargers will make a signing to bolster their OLB depth. Mack’s injury is not expected to be long-term, and the pool of free-agent edge-rushers has suddenly dried up after both Preston Smith and Jadeveon Clowney signed with new teams this week. The Chargers did host their rival's former draft bust on a visit. Instead, the Chargers’ plan will likely be as follows: Dupree will start, with Murphy receiving a bump in snaps as the No. 3 edge-rusher and Kennard making his NFL debut after two healthy scratches to start the year. The team was comfortable with only four active outside linebackers in Weeks 1 and 2, so it may not feel the need to make an elevation from the practice squad. Mack, 34, was quiet in Week 1 against the Chiefs but looked better on Monday with one sack and one tackle for loss in Las Vegas. He re-signed with the Chargers this offseason on a one-year, $18M deal after six sacks in 2024.
After an underwhelming 2024, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has seemed to regain his swagger. On Thursday, former Cowboys QB Troy Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl champion, said Prescott's play has impressed him. The Pro Football Hall of Famer also shared something that should leave Dallas fans feeling optimistic about the team's outlook this season. Troy Aikman suggests Dak Prescott is playing with a greater sense of confidence "But in addition to how well he's played, I just sense there's a confidence about in the way in which he's playing that I don't want to say I haven't seen it before, but I just feel like he's really dialed in and feeling good about where this offense is going," Aikman told KTCK-AM in Dallas. "And usually to have that, you feel really good about the plays that are coming in and who's calling them." New head coach Brian Schottenheimer is calling plays for the Cowboys this season. Over the past two seasons, he served as offensive coordinator, but former head coach Mike McCarthy was the play-caller. The change seems to be paying dividends for Prescott. Through two games, he has completed 59-of-86 passes (68.6 percent) for 549 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Those numbers are similar to the ones he posted during the first two weeks of the 2023 season, when he finished second in league MVP voting behind Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. The early surge is likely tied to Schottenheimer not only knowing how to draw up the right plays for Prescott but also knowing how to push the 32-year-old QB. "Dak and I know how to push each other's buttons," the coach said during his introductory news conference in January. "I think about training camp last year. A ball got intercepted, and we had a thing where if you throw an interception, you come out. And so I took Dak out, and he's like, 'What?' The competitor in him is special." The Cowboys (1-1) need Schottenheimer to keep pushing the right buttons for Prescott in Sunday's road game against the Chicago Bears (0-2). Especially with Dallas' defense — tied for 27th in the league in points allowed (30.5) — still looking like it's not going to get many stops this season.
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