Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba (32) is set for a return to football with AS Monaco after reportedly agreeing a two year deal with the French Ligue 1 club.
In February 2024 the superstar was slapped with a four-year ban from football after he tested positive for DHEA, a banned substance, before the punishment was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration of Sport.
This meant he was able to return to football in March and has been searching for the right club to join.
FootyHawk understands the World Cup winner with France turned down a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League.
In an interview with ESPN in October 2024, Pogba revealed he still has ambitions to play his way back into the star-studded French team.
“That’s what I hope [to play for France]. It’s in my mind for sure but I have to be ready for that. There’s players there that deserve to be playing and deserve to be in the national team. I have to win my place back in the team again.”
But he also considered quitting football.
“Yeah, I had many thoughts in my head, I had so many thoughts to even stop playing.
“I’m like: ‘What am I going to do?’ If it’s four years, you start making the maths in your head. … Four years not playing, training — which club is going to want me? Would I be fit and stuff like that, you make a lot of pictures in your head.
“But on the other side, I had faith obviously, and I was positive. I knew I didn’t do anything wrong on purpose, so then thankfully that happened and they reduce it.”
Pogba’s last game was in September 2023, a 29-minute cameo for Juventus, who beat Empoli 2-0.
The last game he played a full 90 minutes was with Manchester United in March 2022.
Pogba will be back playing Champions League football with Monaco after they finished third in Ligue 1, thus securing their qualification.
Despite playing for Manchester United and Juventus, Pogba has never played his football in France and Monaco will be the first time he does so.
