Paul Pogba’s 18-month ban from football officially ended on Tuesday, but he is in no rush to pick a new club and is likely to wait until the season ends before making a decision, sources told ESPN.

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The French midfielder has limited options for now, as he can only sign with teams in Major League Soccer (MLS) before their transfer window closes on April 23 or in Japan’s J1 League, which shuts on March 26.

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However, sources say Pogba’s priority is to return to a top European league. He has also kept his options open and has even spoken to Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham. Several clubs, including Marseille, Fiorentina, and some LaLiga teams, have shown interest, but he has turned down offers from Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

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Pogba hopes to secure a spot in France’s 2026 World Cup squad and believes playing for a European team, ideally one competing in the Champions League or Europa League, would boost his chances.

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The 32-year-old was initially banned for four years after testing positive for the banned substance DHEA. However, after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, his suspension was reduced to 18 months, which ended on Tuesday.

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Now free to play again, Pogba has not played a competitive match since September 2023, when he made a brief appearance for Juventus. His last full 90-minute game was in March 2022 with Manchester United.

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During his suspension, Pogba trained on his own with a personal coach and played casual matches in Miami, where he has been living with his family. He plans to stay there while waiting to decide his next move.

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