Star midfielder Paul Pogba, known for his time at Manchester United and Juventus, made his debut with Monaco this Saturday, marking his return to the field after more than two years.
Pogba, 32 years old, entered the field in the 85th minute of the match against Rennes, where Monaco suffered a 4-1 defeat in the French league. His entrance was met with a warm ovation from the fans present at the Roazhon Park.
Football is not over for me. We have worked hard, we have waited more than two years to return, and today, it finally happened. Thank God.
Paul Pogba
The player expressed his emotion for the fans’ reception. “I was moved to see the crowd standing and applauding. Honestly, I didn’t expect that, so thank you very much to all the fans who were there today and supported me,” he added.The midfielder’s career, who was a world champion with France, was affected by injuries, off-field problems, and a doping suspension.
Pogba signed a two-year contract with Monaco during the offseason, in an attempt to relaunch his career. Recently, he overcame a minor ankle injury and resumed training with Monaco during the international break.
A total of 811 days passed since his last match, which was with Juventus on September 3, 2023.
At his best, Pogba was instrumental in France winning the 2018 World Cup, scoring in the final against Croatia. He spent most of his career between United and Juventus, and finally left the Italian club in November 2024.
In 2016, Pogba became the most expensive footballer in history at that time, when he returned to United from Juventus for 105 million euros ($116 million).
The hardest blow to his career came in February 2024, when he was initially suspended for four years by the Italian anti-doping tribunal after testing positive for testosterone while still playing for Juventus. In October 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his sanction to 18 months.
I am relieved to be playing football again, which I love most in the world.
Despite his return, Pogba is aware that there is still work to be done. “But there is still work to be done to regain physical fitness, play 90 minutes and help the team as much as possible.”
