Pogba joins Monaco: 2-year deal post-doping ban

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    Former French international Paul Pogba has embarked on a new chapter in his football career after signing a two-year contract with AS Monaco. This move aims to revive his once dazzling career, which has been marred by a series of injuries and a doping suspension. The announcement, much anticipated by many, was made on Monaco’s official platform and shared via a marketplace post featuring the 32-year-old athlete adorned in the club’s iconic red-and-white attire.

    Pogba’s return to the French leagues marks his first foray into the nation’s top-tier football competition, having previously played for prominent clubs such as Juventus and Manchester United. With Monaco securing a commendable third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, Pogba could see himself contending for the Champions League if the team progresses through the qualifying rounds.

    Pogba’s journey began at Le Havre’s academy in France, but his professional career kicked off at Manchester United where he signed at just 16 years old. Once lauded as one of the finest midfielders on the global stage, Pogba’s recent years have seen him more often in the spotlight for reasons outside the pitch.

    In the preceding year, Pogba parted ways with Juventus under a “mutual agreement” after his doping suspension was reduced. Despite his stature as a 2018 World Cup victor, the Italian club appeared uninterested in retaining his services following his ban’s reduction from four years to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The court considered his positive test—a result of taking a prescribed supplement mistakenly—as unintentional.

    Pogba’s high-profile transfer in 2016 saw him return to Manchester United from Juventus with a staggering fee of 105 million euros (approximately $116 million), making him, at that time, the most expensive player in soccer’s history. On the international stage, Pogba has contributed significantly to France, earning 91 caps and scoring in the 2018 World Cup final where France triumphed over Croatia 4-2.

    This latest move has stirred excitement among football enthusiasts, including fellow World Cup winner Kylian Mbappé, who took to Instagram to celebrate Pogba’s return, captioning it with “Pogback” and the Monégasque phrase “Daghe Munegu” translating to “Go Monaco.”

    Throughout his tenure with Manchester United, Pogba accumulated 39 goals in 226 matches. After parting ways with the club, he returned to Juventus in 2022 as a free agent, but was limited by injuries to only 12 appearances. By bringing Pogba on board, Monaco clearly signals their intent to challenge vigorously for the Ligue 1 title, aiming to build on the promising start they enjoyed last season.