Paul Pogba is set to make his long-awaited return to top flight football when Monaco travel to Rennes this Saturday in Ligue 1. His comeback follows more than two years away from competitive action, a period marked by injuries, a doping suspension and the fallout from an extortion case in which he was the victim. The 2018 World Cup winner has featured only 12 times over the last three seasons, making this moment one of the most significant chapters of his career.
His failed drug test in August 2023 after a match for Juventus resulted in a four year ban that was later reduced to 18 months. Even with the adjustment, Juventus terminated his contract in November, ending a difficult second spell in Turin that had already been disrupted by repeated setbacks. The off pitch challenges continued into 2024 when his brother Mathias was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, after being found guilty of his role in a 2022 plot to extort 13 million euros from Pogba.
A new opportunity emerged once Pogba’s suspension concluded in March. Monaco decided to take a chance on him, signing the 32 year old in the close season and placing him on a tailored fitness program designed to prepare him for elite level demands. His return was postponed twice due to minor injuries, yet his experience and past success, including four Serie A titles with Juventus and the 2017 Europa League with Manchester United, continue to fuel expectations for his impact.
How ready is Pogba for his Ligue 1 return with Monaco?
Pogba is unlikely to start at Roazhon Park as Ligue 1 resumes after the international break. Sebastien Pocognoli is expected to introduce him gradually, possibly giving him only the final minutes as sixth-placed Monaco eases him back into competitive action. Even so, the spotlight will be firmly on him. Many fans are eager to see whether his vision and ability to execute passes that few players can imagine have survived his time away from the game.
He has expressed strong ambition for the future, particularly regarding a return to the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. His goals remain clear. “It’s the wish of every French football player to represent the France national team, but there are stages,” Pogba said upon signing for Monaco. “Today I’m at stage one: coming back and performing well. There are spots to be won and you have to earn them.”
Monaco attacker Maghnes Akliouche is one of the players expected to gain the most from Pogba’s presence. Fresh from scoring his first international goal in France’s 3-1 win over Azerbaijan during World Cup qualifying, the 23-year-old has already been identified as one of Ligue 1’s brightest young talents. With three goals in 11 league outings so far, receiving service from a midfielder of Pogba’s creativity could elevate his season significantly.
Across the rest of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain face Le Havre, third-placed Lens host fourth-placed Strasbourg and rivals Nice and Marseille meet in a heated south coast fixture. But all eyes will inevitably shift back to Rennes, where Pogba takes the next crucial step in his long road back to football.
By Yockshard Enyendi
