Paul Pogba’s Return to Competitive Football
Paul Pogba is poised to make his long-awaited return to competitive football with AS Monaco this Saturday, as they take on Rennes in Brittany. Sources have informed ESPN that Pogba, who has not played since September 2023, is expected to feature for a limited time in the match. The 32-year-old midfielder has been sidelined for 26 months, since he last appeared for Juventus in a match against Empoli, where he played for just 28 minutes.
Pogba’s Doping Ban and Comeback
Notably, Pogba has yet to experience Ligue 1 action in his career; he departed Le Havre for Manchester United at the tender age of 16. His return to the pitch coincides with a prolonged absence due to a doping ban following a positive test for DHEA, a substance that elevates testosterone levels. This led to a four-year suspension in February 2024, although Pogba has consistently maintained that the incident was unintentional, attributing it to a food supplement he ingested unknowingly. However, he successfully appealed the decision, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his ban to 18 months, enabling him to return in March 2025.
Aspirations and Training
Pogba, a veteran of 91 caps and 11 goals for the French national team, harbors aspirations of participating in the 2026 World Cup. He trained without issues this past Thursday, and the plan is for him to engage in further workouts on Friday, after which he will join the team traveling to Rennes if all goes well. The coaching staff aims to gradually increase his playing time over the next few weeks, with the goal of him eventually playing full matches on consecutive days.
Coaching and Team Dynamics
At the helm of AS Monaco is Sebastien Pocognoli, who has been in charge for just over a month. Pocognoli is enthusiastic about reintegrating the 2018 World Cup champion into the lineup to aid the team’s pursuit of climbing the standings, as Monaco currently sits sixth in the league, trailing second-place Marseille by five points and leading team Paris Saint-Germain by seven points.
Challenges and Rehabilitation
Pogba’s return seemed imminent prior to the international break, but a minor ankle injury during training set back his plans. Now, however, after his extensive rehabilitation process that began when he joined Monaco on a two-year deal in June, he is ready to don the No. 8 shirt and return to action. The rehabilitation regimen included comprehensive fitness assessments, biochemistry profiling, mobility tests, and cognitive evaluations to ensure his proper reintegration into competitive football. Over the past five months, Pogba has dedicated himself to rigorous training, aiming for a comeback before the year draws to a close, taking on a leadership role among his younger teammates as they navigate the season together.
