Paul Pogba's comeback campaign at Monaco was meant to be the redemption story for one of football's modern icons. Instead, it has rapidly unravelled into yet another disheartening chapter since the World Cup winner departed Manchester United four years ago.
A Season of Setbacks
From deflating second stints at United and Juventus to serving an 18-month ban for a doping violation he maintains was unintentional, recent years have dealt Pogba a rough hand. The harsh reality is that the 33-year-old's finest days may well be firmly behind him.
An injury-plagued debut season on the French Riviera speaks volumes, with Pogba having featured for just 57 minutes across five appearances for Monaco as the campaign nears its conclusion. French football expert Tom Williams believes yet another transfer beckons after the midfielder failed to make his mark in Monaco.
"Yes, unfortunately," Williams told the Manchester Evening News when asked whether the player will be moved on this summer. "From what we've seen, he is the same player. He still moves around the pitch in the same way. He has the authority he always had. He has the same technical dexterity on the ball. He can still fly a perfectly weighted 60-yard diagonal pass."
However, Williams added: "He just can't get around the pitch anything like he used to be able to. Unfortunately, since the start of the season, he's not been able to do it for more than 20 minutes at a time. Despite the fact that he has literally had nothing to do but just try to get fit."
No Long-Term Solution in Sight
Pogba's most recent involvement was a six-minute substitute appearance in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Toulouse. The midfielder came on with his side leading 2-1, only for Monaco to collapse and surrender crucial ground in the European qualification battle.
Though under contract until the summer of 2027, Pogba's prospects of remaining at the Stade Louis II past this season may hinge on which competition they participate in next campaign. His likelihood of completing a second season appears considerably lower should they miss out on European qualification altogether, an increasingly realistic possibility.
What was billed as the rebirth of France's once-golden boy has instead highlighted the inevitable march of time. At 33, other creative midfielders typically adapt to compensate for diminishing physical faculties; Pogba would at this stage be thrilled simply to complete a full 90 minutes.
Williams continued: "I imagine if Monaco had drawn up a set of potential scenarios at the beginning of the season, in terms of how much football he might be able to play and how much he might be able to contribute, the season that he's been able to produce so far would have been pretty much the absolute minimal expectation. Things have basically gone as badly as they could have done on the injury front."
Fondness Remains, But Future Uncertain
It is worth noting the enormous respect Monaco's supporters had for the player, and which they predominantly still maintain. Williams emphasised the fanbase embraced Pogba as one of their own, and he remains warmly regarded, particularly by younger supporters. Even rival fans have shown the player some warmth; Pogba is a French legend owing to his past achievements and was a defining face of the 2018 World Cup triumph.
Yet the harsher reality is that the Monaco experiment "just hasn't worked out," in Williams' words. Another transfer may well beckon this summer, but that only raises further questions about who would take on a costly yet declining asset with so little prospect of a return on investment.
