Just when you thought Paul Pogba might finally lace up his boots for AS Monaco, the football gods decided to throw another curveball his way. Because apparently, two years away from professional football wasn’t quite enough suffering for the former Manchester United midfielder.
Pogba’s Latest Setback Crushes Monaco Debut Dreams
The 32-year-old French international has picked up what’s being described as a “minor muscle strain” during training this week, effectively ruling him out of Monaco’s upcoming clash against Angers SCO after the international break. And honestly, at this point, you have to wonder if someone up there has it out for the guy.
According to reports from Nice-Matin, Pogba was tantalizingly close to making his Monaco debut in last weekend’s Derby de la Côte d’Azur. Fans were practically salivating at the prospect of seeing the 2018 World Cup winner back on the pitch, but the club’s medical staff decided it was “a bit too soon.” Well, turns out they might have been onto something.
The Long Road Back for Pogba
Let’s rewind a bit here. Pogba hasn’t kicked a ball professionally since September 3, 2023 – a date that’s probably burned into his memory like a bad tattoo. His world came crashing down when he was slapped with a doping ban that initially looked like it would end his career. Four years they wanted to give him. Four years! Thank goodness for appeals courts, because that sentence got chopped down to 18 months, which is still an eternity in football terms.
The midfielder served his time, kept his head down, and when Monaco came calling with a free transfer offer this summer, it seemed like the perfect redemption story waiting to happen. Pogba looked sharp in preseason friendlies, showing flashes of the brilliance that once made him one of the most sought-after players in world football. But apparently, fate had other plans.
Monaco’s Cautious Approach With Pogba
You can’t really blame Monaco for being careful with their high-profile signing. When you’ve got a player who hasn’t seen competitive action for two years, rushing him back is like playing with fire. The club’s medical team has been walking on eggshells, treating Pogba like a piece of fine china that might shatter if handled too roughly.
This cautious approach makes perfect sense from a business perspective. Monaco didn’t sign Pogba to have him break down after three games. They want him fit, firing on all cylinders, and ready to make a meaningful contribution to their season. But for fans who’ve been waiting with bated breath to see the Frenchman back in action, this latest setback feels like salt in the wound.
When Will Pogba Finally Return?
The million-dollar question remains: when will we actually see Pogba back on the pitch? The optimistic timeline points to Monaco’s home fixture against Toulouse on October 25. That would give him roughly two weeks to shake off this muscle strain and get back to full fitness. But given his track record lately, even the most optimistic Monaco supporters might want to temper their expectations.
The Pogba Comeback Story We’re All Waiting For
There’s something almost poetic about Pogba’s struggles to return. Here’s a player who once commanded transfer fees that could fund small countries, reduced to fighting his own body just to get back on the field. The man who danced his way through World Cup celebrations now finds himself sidelined by muscle strains and bureaucratic nightmares.
When – not if – Pogba finally makes his Monaco debut, it’ll be one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent football history. The question is whether all this stop-start preparation will leave him rusty when he finally gets his chance, or if the extended rest will have him fresher than ever.
For now, Monaco fans will have to keep waiting, probably while muttering something about football being a cruel mistress under their breath.
