Pogba is celebrating a comeback! Former world champion signs with AS Monaco

Pogba is celebrating a comeback! Former world champion signs with AS Monaco

After an eventful time, Paul Pogba, the former world champion and talented French professional footballer, returns to the pitch. After a year and a half doping ban, Pogba has now signed a contract with AS Monaco, which is valid until June 30, 2027. However, the 32-year-old is no longer without a club; Rather, he took his second chance with the Ligue 1 club. This return means a lot for Pogba, who was last released by Juventus in November 2024 after parting ways amicably. This was a consequence of his positive doping test, which he gave in August 2023 after a game against Udinese, which ultimately led to a four-year ban, later reduced to 18 months, as he had not doped intentionally, as confirmed by the decision of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Wesermarsch district newspaper reports that this return attempt was also accompanied by the most recent medical tests, which Pogba successfully completed.

Pogba has already shown impressive performances throughout his career, including during his time at Manchester United and Juventus, where he played a total of 190 competitive games. After his return to Juventus in the summer of 2022, injuries and the doping problem were constant companions. The contract, which would have been valid until the end of June 2025, was unexpectedly terminated due to the discrepancies. By moving to AS Monaco, Pogba hopes to get his badly damaged career back on track. As a free agent, he will be paid a salary of around €2 million per season and will wear the number 8 - a number associated with many of football's big names. Yahoo! Sports also highlights that this is Pogba's second return to an old club, having also moved from Manchester United to Juventus as a teenager in 2012.

A setback and a new beginning

The doping scandal took Pogba out of active competition for over a year and raised many questions about his future. If you look at the background to the ban, it turns out that Pogba tested positive after taking a nutritional supplement that indicated performance-enhancing substances. At a press conference he said that this was not his intention and that he was very sorry about the case. The CAS ultimately ruled that Pogba was not intentionally doping, which influenced the length of the ban. A four-year ban was originally considered, but this was reduced to 18 months - a move that shows the committee believed Pogba deserved a second chance at football. Sports show also reports that this administration of punishment has affected more than just Pogba's career and has stimulated many players in the professional community to think about doping practices and their consequences.

With his return to AS Monaco, it looks like Pogba is ready to prove himself again. When I look at his achievements so far, including winning the 2018 World Cup with the French national team and the Europa League with Manchester United, Pogba ranks as one of the most remarkable midfielders of his generation. The coming season will be crucial: whether he can heal the wounds of his last few months on the pitch and fight his way back to his old form remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear – the football world can look forward to an exciting new beginning!