Paul Pogba's return to football after a two-year doping ban has been deeply underwhelming, with the 33-year-old managing just 57 minutes across five appearances for Monaco. While his injury struggles are partly self-inflicted, the club's medical department is facing serious scrutiny after a disastrous season.
According to Ligue 1 journalist Luke Entwistle, Monaco's medical record has been atrocious, with numerous muscular injuries plaguing the squad. The head doctor, Yann Le Meur, lost his job weeks ago, and another senior medical staff member has also departed. No formal announcement was made, but local media confirm Le Meur is no longer at the club.
CEO Thiago Scuro ordered an audit of the medical department, which was originally scheduled for the summer. Scuro admitted Pogba has been “disturbed” by a persistent calf injury, adding: “The programme and the plan for Paul is not working the way we expected.” Monaco are also dealing with ACL tears for Takumi Minamino and Mohammed Salisu, plus other knee and hamstring complaints.
Pogba's injury history is extensive: during his second stint at Manchester United, he missed 112 matches over six seasons, roughly 20 per campaign. Despite his hefty salary at Monaco (around £45,000 a week plus bonuses), supporters remain affectionate, but doubts linger over whether the club will ever extract value from the deal.
“They've chosen the wrong time for their medical department to implode,” Entwistle said. Pogba's fitness remains a concern, with no clear timeline for a full recovery.
