Paul Pogba's footballing future could see a dramatic return to its roots, with reports emerging that the banned Juventus star is considering a sensational move back to AS Monaco.
The 2018 World Cup winner is currently serving a four-year suspension from football after testing positive for testosterone, a verdict he is appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). With his career at a devastating crossroads, a familiar safe harbour might be his next destination.
A Career in Limbo
At 31 years old, Pogba finds himself in footballing exile. His high-profile return to Juventus from Manchester United in 2022 has been utterly derailed by the doping scandal. The Italian anti-doping tribunal's harsh sentence has left the midfielder's illustrious career hanging by a thread.
His representatives are fighting fiercely to overturn or reduce the ban at CAS, arguing that he ingested the substance accidentally. The outcome of this appeal will ultimately decide if one of football's most talented midfielders of his generation ever plays again at the highest level.
Monaco: The Proposed Escape Route
According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Pogba's camp is already plotting a potential escape route. The most plausible scenario, should his ban be reduced, is a emotional return to Ligue 1's AS Monaco—the club where he first burst onto the world stage before his move to Manchester United over a decade ago.
The report suggests a free transfer to Monaco is being discussed as a way for Pogba to resurrect his career in a familiar and less pressurised environment, away from the intense scrutiny of Turin.
An Uphill Battle Ahead
Even if CAS shows clemency, Pogba faces a monumental challenge to regain his former glory. His second stint at Juventus has been marred by persistent injury problems, limiting him to just over 200 minutes of play across all competitions before the ban was imposed.
The physical and mental toll of a prolonged period away from the game, combined with his recent injury history, makes a comeback an incredibly difficult prospect. A return to Monaco could offer the patient, supportive environment needed for one of football's great redemption stories.
All eyes are now on the Court of Arbitration for Sport, whose decision will write the next—and possibly final—chapter in the career of Paul Pogba.
