Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is reportedly on the verge of joining Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami.
The 31-year-old has been on the lookout for a new club since his contract at Juventus was terminated in November last year following a high-profile doping scandal.
Pogba was found to have abnormal levels of testosterone in two separate samples at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, and the Frenchman was initially given a four-year ban from football which could have spelled the end of his career.
However, the 2018 World Cup winner was successful with his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and his suspension was reduced to 18 months, allowing him to return to football at the beginning of March this year.
Now a free agent, Pogba has since been linked with a number of clubs including Man United, where he has previously spent two spells, although it is understood that the Red Devils are prioritising other younger targets at precent.
A remarkable move to Manchester City was mooted at the end of last year, but the chances of that happening appear to be highly unlikely, while Pogba has also been linked with the likes of Ligue 1 side Marseille and teams in Saudi Arabia.
© Imago
Pogba on the verge of joining Messi at Inter Miami
However, according to Fichajes, Pogba is now in advanced negotiations with Inter Miami and official confirmation of the midfielder's move to the MLS side could be announced in the 'coming weeks'.
The report adds that eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is one of the main drivers behind Pogba's move to Inter Miami, as the Argentine icon is said to have asked the club's board to make an effort to sign the Frenchman.
Messi, who joined Inter Miami on a free transfer in 2023 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, is said to view Pogba as an 'ideal partner' to strengthen the team co-owned by ex-Man United man David Beckham.
Pogba recently took to social media to show himself building up his fitness and has made it clear that he is ready to make an imminent return to football.
In a video posted on Instagram, Pogba said: "So we're here in Miami, training, try to get fit as soon as possible, you already know the story.
"I'm here, and there are some fans around, United fans and Barcelona fans. It's big up to all of them. This gentleman [the Barcelona fan] tried to challenge me."
Inter Miami - who, as well as Messi, boast the likes of Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba among their ranks - have made a positive start to the 2025 MLS season, winning three and drawing one of their opening four league games.
Oliver Thomas
