Paul Pogba is back and this time he’s heading to Ligue 1 for the first time in his illustrious career. The 32-year-old French midfielder has signed a two-year deal with AS Monaco, marking a fresh chapter after an 18-month doping suspension threatened to end his playing days for good.
Pogba, who once commanded a world-record £89 million fee when he rejoined Manchester United in 2016, was provisionally banned after failing a random doping test following Juventus’ opening Serie A match against Udinese in the 2023-24 season.
Initially handed a four-year suspension for testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a banned substance that boosts testosterone, Pogba’s ban was reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last October.
In a twist that raised eyebrows across the football world, CAS ruled that DHEA, which Pogba claimed he took inadvertently, only has a performance-enhancing effect on females, effectively saving his career.
By November, Pogba had mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Juventus and has been training independently as a free agent since March, waiting for the right opportunity to reignite his career.
The move to Monaco comes at a pivotal time for the 91-cap French international. Pogba, who lifted the 2018 World Cup with France and famously scored in the final against Croatia, now has a chance to relaunch his career in his home country’s top flight, something he’s never done before despite his long spell with the French national team.
The dynamic midfielder first made headlines as a promising youngster at Manchester United before flourishing at Juventus, where he won four consecutive Serie A titles and two league-and-cup Doubles.
His big-money return to Old Trafford saw early silverware with the Europa League and FA Cup but was later overshadowed by injuries, inconsistency, and frustration.
Now, Monaco will be hoping to tap into Pogba’s experience, vision, and flair as they look to challenge Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 dominance. For Pogba, it’s a final chance to silence critics and prove that the star who lit up the 2018 World Cup still has plenty left to give.
Whether he can rediscover his best form remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: Paul Pogba is ready for redemption.
Also Read:FKF Women’s Cup final: Kibera to face Vihiga Queens in at Afraha Stadium
