Monaco reassess Paul Pogba’s future

January 29, 2026 Oliver Obel

AS Monaco are reassessing Paul Pogba’s role just months after the midfielder’s much-anticipated return to French football, with persistent fitness problems casting doubt over how long his latest comeback can realistically last.

Pogba joined Monaco last summer on a two-year deal that runs until June 2027, a move widely viewed as a chance to reset his career after a turbulent period away from the game. Instead, his time in the principality has so far been defined by brief appearances and repeated setbacks.

The former France international was cleared to resume playing in March 2025 after serving an 18-month suspension for a failed doping test while at Juventus. Pogba had initially been handed a four-year ban after testing positive for DHEA, a prohibited substance that can raise testosterone levels, but the sanction was later reduced on appeal.

Monaco offered him an opportunity to rebuild match fitness and re-establish himself at the top level. However, that plan has struggled to gain momentum. Pogba, who turns 33 in March, has featured just three times for the club, logging around 30 minutes in total.

Those appearances have been spread across short substitute outings, interrupted by three separate injury spells since his return. The recurring problems have limited his availability and dented hopes of forcing his way back into international contention ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Spanish outlet SPORT reported that Monaco are now actively exploring options to move Pogba on, suggesting the club believes his long-term future may lie elsewhere if his fitness issues continue.

Goal has also pointed to growing uncertainty behind the scenes, reporting: “There is already a sense that his future in the principality is far from certain beyond the summer, as Monaco weigh up whether to cut their losses.”

Despite the doubts, Pogba could yet feature in Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Juventus, a meeting that would carry obvious symbolism given his recent past in Turin.

His Monaco debut came on November 22, when he made a brief appearance off the bench against Rennes after recovering from thigh and ankle injuries. Further short cameos against Paris Saint-Germain and Brest followed, before a calf problem again ruled him out for several weeks.

Whether Pogba can now string together a sustained run of games may prove decisive — not just for Monaco’s season, but for determining the next chapter of a career that has struggled to regain stability.

Sources: SPORT, Goal