Paul Pogba has not played a competitive match for over two years, but the former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder could be set for his debut for Monaco this weekend.
The former Manchester United midfielder is poised to make his long-awaited return to competitive football this weekend, having not featured in a match for more than two years.
He joined Ligue 1 side Monaco during the summer after spending seven and a half months as a free agent. He left Juventus in mid-November following a mutual termination of his contract.
The 32-year-old had been serving a suspension after failing a drugs test, with his initial four-year ban reduced to 18 months following an appeal. He became eligible for selection again in March this year but did not sign with Monaco until the summer.
Although cleared to play, Pogba has yet to appear for Monaco this season while working to regain match fitness. His return was initially planned for after the October international window.
That schedule was later delayed due to a minor fitness setback. A new target date for the Paris FC fixture at the start of the month was then set.
However, those plans were disrupted once more when the midfielder sustained an ankle problem in training, further postponing his debut.
According to L’Equipe, Monaco are preparing to include Pogba in their matchday squad for Saturday evening’s Ligue 1 clash with Rennes. If he plays, it will be his first competitive appearance since 3 September 2023, when Juventus defeated Empoli 2-0 in Serie A.
Discussing the ankle issue that ruled him out of the Paris FC game, Monaco manager Sebastien Pocognoli said: “We are awaiting confirmation of the severity of the injury. The idea is that he can be available after the international break; that is the plan that we are following. We are all disappointed.”
Monaco currently sit sixth in the Ligue 1 table with 20 points from 12 matches and are set to face Rennes away this weekend before traveling to Cyprus for a Champions League group stage match against Pafos on Wednesday night.
Both teams have collected five points from their opening four Champions League games and occupy 19th and 20th places in the league stage. Pogba’s most recent Champions League appearance came for United in the Last 16 clash against Atletico Madrid in March 2023.
The midfielder had two spells at United, first rising through the youth ranks between 2009 and 2012 before moving to Juventus.
He returned to Old Trafford in 2016 for a transfer fee of £89 million, making 233 appearances, scoring 39 goals, and providing 51 assists during his tenure.
In 2022, he returned to Juventus on a free transfer. While at United, he was part of squads that won the League Cup in 2010 and 2017, as well as the Europa League in the 2016/17 season.
