Medhi Benatia is keen on strengthening Olympique de Marseille with a high-profile signing in the near future.
Despite Paul Pogba’s doping ban being reduced to 18 months, which allows him to train since January and return to action in March, Benatia has confirmed the Frenchman is still very much on the club’s radar.
While a winter move for Pogba was considered, the club ultimately decided against it, given the midfielder’s fitness status. As the rules in Ligue 1 prevent new player registrations post-winter window, a move for Pogba would have disrupted the balance of the squad with no immediate return on the pitch.
Speaking to L’Équipe, Benatia elaborated: “We thought about it (signing Pogba in January). We wanted to do it. The problem is, if we brought in Paul Pogba, who isn’t yet ‘fit’, does it make sense to shake up our balances […] for a player who won’t be able to participate in the end of the season? If something can be done, we will be delighted to welcome a player like Paul Pogba to give us a helping hand next year, if the opportunity presents itself.”
