As he formally signed a two-year contract with Ligue 1 team AS Monaco on Saturday, French football star Paul Pogba broke down in tears, marking the end of his protracted sabbatical from the game following a high-profile doping controversy.
Once a key member of France’s 2018 World Cup winning team, the 32-year-old midfielder has been without a club since Juventus ended his contract last year due to the consequences of a doping sentence.
When Pogba tested positive for a prohibited drug in August 2023, he was given a four-year penalty. After an appeal, the punishment was notably lowered to 18 months in October, allowing him to resume playing competitive football earlier this year.
Despite the clearance, Pogba’s ties with Juventus had already been severed by mutual consent, leaving him in search of a fresh start. His last professional appearance came in September 2023.
Now, with AS Monaco offering him a lifeline, Pogba appears poised to resurrect his career in the French top flight.
In a moving video released by the club, Pogba was seen emotionally overwhelmed as he leaned on the table moments before signing his contract. He appeared tearful as he finally put pen to paper, with AS Monaco’s sporting director, Thiago Scuro, and a member of his entourage offering him quiet support.
The signing marks a poignant new chapter for Pogba, who has vowed to prove himself once again on the pitch. His return to Ligue 1 also brings him back to where his journey began, having risen through the ranks in France before global stardom.
Football fans worldwide will be watching closely as Pogba looks to turn adversity into redemption on the grand stage.
