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After Paul Pogba’s Ban, Juventus Plan $43M Raid on Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli For 21YO Sensation as Replacement

Published 11/04/2023, 9:50 AM EDT

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Soccer is a sport that constantly keeps us on our toes, whether it’s on-pitch action or off-pitch speculations. The recent developments surrounding Juventus’ star midfielder Paul Pogba are nothing short of astonishing. His future with Juventus is hanging in the balance, as he faces a lengthy ban after doping concerns. Now, with Pogba out of plans, Juventus has been forced to look for a replacement. The Serie A giants have reportedly eyed a 21-year-old Al-Ahli sensation, who could potentially fill Pogba’s shoes and keep the midfield ticking.

As Paul Pogba’s sudden ban left fans and the club astounded, it forced Juventus to prepare for its entry into the transfer market. The club is reportedly turning its gaze to Saudi Arabia for a potential target and replacement. Let’s dive deeper.

Juventus eyes replacement for Paul Pogba

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With Paul Pogba’s immediate future hangs in balance, Serie A giants Juventus is left with a significant void to fill in their midfield. To fill the gaping hole left by Paul Pogba, according to the reports, Juventus are planning to raid Saudi League side Al-Ahli in the upcoming transfer window. The Old Lady is aiming to splurge $43 million for Al-Ahli’s 21-year-old Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga.

But who is Gabri Veiga? Veiga is a 21-year-old Spanish attacking midfielder, who became a rising star for La Liga side Celta Vigo last season. With 11 goals under his name in La Liga, Veiga kept Celta Vigo in the league and saved them from facing relegation. In the summer, Veiga surprised everyone after turning down the interest from European giants like Real Madrid, Napoli, and Manchester City. Instead, he decided to sign a contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli.

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But, Veiga’s journey at Al-Ahli has been far from smooth. After a promising start, the path took a downturn for Veiga. He has only scored 1 goal and provided one assist in his last nine games for Al-Ahli. And, to make matters worse, he was recently subbed off during Al-Ahli’s 2-1 defeat against rivals Abha in the King’s Cup clash, which left him disappointed.

Paul Pogba’s doping dilemma

Paul Pogba, the World Cup-winning French midfielder, who plies his trade with Juventus, recently found himself in a troubling situation. Pogba failed a drug test in August after Juventus’ Serie A clash against Udinese. The test results revealed elevated Testosterone levels, resulting in a 2-4 year suspension from soccer. However, the Frenchman has now two choices: either settle with anti-doping prosecutors or opt for a sporting trial before the Anti-Doping Sports Tribunal.

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via Imago

As the world anxiously waits for the outcome of Paul Pogba’s situation, Juventus gears up for a major transition. If they complete the transfer of Gabri Veiga, it could be the key to ticking the midfield. The winter transfer window is set to fuel up the excitement among fans and enthusiasts, as Juventus plans to initiate the strengthening of the squad.

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Written by:

Sahil Sharma

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Sahil Sharma is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. He's been a fan since childhood, but his love for the sport truly took off when Real Madrid won their record 10th UEFA Champions League title in 2014. That famous La Decima triumph turned him into a hardcore Madridista.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra