Paul Pogba’s comeback from a doping ban has been plagued by injury, but Monaco’s chaotic medical department may bear significant responsibility. The 33-year-old World Cup winner has managed just 57 minutes across five appearances since signing a two-year contract in January, having served a suspension for testing positive for non-endogenous testosterone.
Ligue 1 journalist Luke Entwistle revealed that Monaco’s medical setup has imploded this season. Head doctor Yann Le Meur lost his job weeks ago, and another senior staff member has also departed, with no official announcements made. CEO Thiago Scuro fast-tracked an audit of the department after a spate of muscular injuries.
Scuro admitted that the plan for Pogba is not working as expected, with the player suffering persistent calf problems. The CEO stated Pogba wants to be more available and increase his minutes on the pitch. Monaco are also dealing with long-term absences of Takumi Minamino and Mohammed Salisu due to ACL tears, plus other knee and hamstring issues.
Pogba’s injury history is extensive: during his second stint at Manchester United he missed 112 matches in six seasons, averaging nearly 20 per campaign. Despite earning around £45,000 per week at Monaco, fans remain supportive, but questions linger over whether the club will ever see a return on their investment.
Entwistle added that the medical department’s collapse came at the worst possible time for an injury-prone player like Pogba. While no one has said it publicly, the journalist suggested Pogba may still not be fully right physically, despite his efforts to return.
