Racist Remark Sparks Uncertainty Over Paul Pogba’s Future at Juventus
Paul Pogba’s future at Juventus has been cast into doubt following a controversial and racially insensitive remark made by a senior figure within Italian football. Carlo Tavecchio, the leading candidate to become president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), is under fire after making offensive comments widely interpreted as directed at foreign players like Pogba.
During a speech promoting his candidacy, Tavecchio said: “Opti Poba arrived and ate bananas, and now he’s playing in Serie A.” Though he later claimed the remark was a misstep and insisted he is “not a racist”, the backlash has been swift and intense, both domestically and internationally.
Tavecchio’s comments have reignited concerns about racism in Italian football, an issue that has persisted for years despite repeated pledges from authorities to stamp it out. The statement not only sparked outrage but could have significant ramifications for Serie A’s reputation and its ability to retain international talent.
Pogba, a French international of Guinean heritage, has reportedly been deeply unsettled by the incident. According to sources close to the player, the 21-year-old midfielder is seriously considering his future in Italian football and may look to move abroad as a result of the toxic environment.
The former Manchester United youth product is not short of options. Both his former club and Chelsea are reportedly monitoring the situation closely, and could make moves to lure him back to the Premier League. Juventus, who have so far remained publicly silent on the matter, may be forced to confront the possibility of losing one of their most valuable assets.
Whether or not Tavecchio’s candidacy survives the backlash remains to be seen, but the broader issue of racism in Italian football has once again been brought to the fore—with potentially significant consequences for both the league’s image and its top talents.
