France international, Paul Pogba, was visibly emotional as he inked a two-year deal with French club Monaco, marking his return to competitive football after a doping suspension.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who played for Manchester United and Juventus, faced a provisional suspension after undergoing a random test following Juventus’ opening match of the 2023-24 season against Udinese.
He subsequently received a four-year ban, which was reduced to 18 months in October after an appeal.
In a heartfelt moment, Pogba expressed his gratitude by saying, “Thanks for the trust,” upon finalising the Monaco contract.
He mutually terminated his contract with Juventus in November and has been able to restart his career as a free agent since March.
This will be the first time the World Cup-winning French player competes in Ligue 1 during his career.
The final decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed that Pogba unintentionally ingested dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a substance that increases testosterone levels and is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Pogba began his career at Manchester United before transferring to Juventus, where he claimed Serie A titles in each of his first four seasons, including two Doubles.
He returned to Old Trafford for a record-breaking £89million in 2016, and in his debut season, he secured both the Europa League and FA Cup.
With 91 caps for France, Pogba contributed to Les Bleus’ 2018 World Cup victory, scoring in the final as they defeated Croatia 4-2 in Russia.
Injuries and inconsistent performance plagued his last three seasons at Manchester United, and he struggled to make an impact upon his return to Juventus as a free agent.
