Paul Pogba starts at AS Monaco after doping ban!

Paul Pogba starts at AS Monaco after doping ban!

Former world champion Paul Pogba has taken on a new challenge in Ligue 1. The 32-year-old midfielder signed a two-year contract with AS Monaco until June 2027. This was officially announced on Saturday after a successful medical check sn.at reported.

Pogba is making his comeback after an 18-month doping ban imposed on him in the summer of 2023 after testing positive for testosterone. At this point he was still under contract with Juventus Turin. An Italian sports court initially handed him a four-year ban; However, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced this to one and a half years in October 2024. The reduction was made on the grounds that Pogba had mistakenly taken the banned substance DHEA through an over-the-counter dietary supplement.

Career and return

The move to Monaco marks Pogba's first stop in Ligue 1 in his home country of France. He previously moved from Manchester United to Juventus in 2012 before returning to Manchester in 2016 for a record fee of 105.5 million euros. Pogba's last appearance in the French national team dates back to 2022, when he played for his home country in the FIFA World Cup final. A few months later he returned to Juventus, where he was set back by injuries and the doping offense.

Amid a difficult period at Juventus, with Pogba facing injuries and a disappointing tenure, the Turin club announced in November 2024 that Pogba had been released by mutual consent from his contract, which runs until 2026. His move to AS Monaco now comes in the hope of revitalizing his career and showing that he can return to the big stage like Devdiscourse highlights.

Pogba is determined to fight back from his doping ban and use the support of his new club to improve his form and performance. The coming seasons will show whether the French star can return to his skills at the highest level.