Paul Pogba could be on the brink of a sensational return to Manchester United as he approaches the end of his doping suspension. The 31-year-old was initially slapped with a four-year ban in February after failing a doping test, but this was slashed to just 18 months following an appeal.
This means Pogba can lace up his boots for training again in January 2025 and start playing matches from March onwards, potentially paving the way for a career resurgence.
Last month, Pogba and Juventus mutually agreed to part ways, ending a disappointing spell that saw him rack up a mere 203 minutes over two-and-a-half years.
Now a free agent, finding a new club will undoubtedly top Pogba's Christmas list, and there are whispers that United could play a role in his comeback.
Fellow Frenchman and former United striker Louis Saha sparked a frenzy by claiming he had heard that a Carrington comeback was on the cards.
He said: "I’ve heard some rumours that Paul Pogba will be offered the opportunity to come back and train with Man United in the New Year, and I think that would be a great opportunity for Paul."
Regardless of where he lands, his former team-mate, Bruno Fernandes, will be rooting for him from a distance and would be delighted to share the pitch with him again.
Following the news of his Juventus departure, Fernandes, 30, sent him a message on the same platform, writing: "Phenomenon as a player but even more phenomenal as a person you are," accompanied by a heart emoji.
Last November, when Pogba hinted at a comeback, Chelsea loanee Sancho, 24, also shared his excitement on Instagram, posting: "I can't wait for you to return."
Pogba could be on the verge of a sensational third spell at United, having previously joined the ranks as a prodigious talent from Le Havre in 2009, only to exit for first-team football with Juventus in 2011.
After a record-breaking return to the Theatre of Dreams in 2016, where he bagged 39 goals across more than 220 appearances, his journey took him back to Italy last year.
With Sancho set to make his loan move to Chelsea permanent, assuming they finish higher than 15th in the Premier League, a reunion with Pogba seems off the cards.
But Fernandes, likely to remain a key player for Ruben Amorim given his captaincy role, may be instrumental in nudging United towards a homecoming.
The fondness Pogba holds for the club is well-known, and close pal Bacary Sagna has hinted that Amorim might be open to the idea.
"United have a young coach, a coach that has been a player, a coach that understands the situation," Sagna told Mega Dice.
"He will probably be willing to have a player like Paul at his training sessions. Amorim was a player himself, so I'm sure the coach will be open to seeing him getting back home because he loves United.
"I have talked many times with Paul. He loves United. The only problem was the situation when he came back.
"That was a spell where things didn't go as well as they should have done, but Paul wasn't the only player that struggled at United during the time he was there."