Paul Pogba is on the verge of a highly-anticipated return more than two years after being banned from football – but his new manager is keen to play down any grand expectations.
The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder, 32, was given a four-year doping ban in September 2023 which was later slashed to just 18 months.
The Frenchman told Daily Mail Sport last year that he was going through ‘hell’ during the period which saw Juventus tear up his lucrative £200,000-per-week contract.
But after discovering his ban was reduced, Pogba made a dramatic return from the footballing wilderness when he penned a two-year contract with AS Monaco in June this year.
He was brought to the Stade Louis II by then-manager Adi Hutter, who was sacked earlier this month after a poor run of results before being replaced by Sebastien Pocognoli.
Pocognoli has been tasked with turning Monaco’s fortunes around both domestically and in the Champions League, and has now revealed that he is close to being able to call upon the World Cup winner to help him in his bid.
Paul Pogba is on the verge of a sensational return to football two years after he was banned
The Frenchman broke down in tears after signing a contract with Monaco earlier this year
The head coach said: ‘Paul is closer to returning than Denis (Denis Zakaria), even though his absence was much longer.
‘I said this week would be used to answer some more questions, and every day is part of that process.
‘For the moment, things are going well; I expect it to be a short time before he’s back with the group.’
However, the Belgian was quick to pour cold water on any suggestions that Pogba will be the same player he was during his spells in Manchester and Turin.
‘When he returns, we’ll need to work together to assess him as a player,’ Pocognoli said. ‘The Paul of Manchester United or his first period at Juventus dates back several years now.’
‘When he returns, we’ll need to work together to assess him as a player,’ Pocognoli said. ‘The Paul of Manchester United or his first period at Juventus dates back several years now.
‘Every player develops according to their age and experience, so we’ll have to judge him based on his background and his age.
Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has been keen to play down expectations on Pogba
The midfielder was instrumental in France’s World Cup victory in 2018 and scored in the final
‘From what I can see, he still possesses the technique we know he has. The rhythm of the matches will then give us some answers to all these questions.’
Pogba was visibly emotional upon when he penned his contract with Monaco earlier this year, and himself vowed: ‘I don’t want to return unless I’m fully myself. People want to see the real Paul Pogba’.
His new boss echoed that sentiment as he called on Pogba to be ‘the best version of himself.
Pocognoli added: ‘He can be the best version of himself at AS Monaco; in any case, it will be my role to try and guide him towards that level, to try and stimulate all his qualities and his potential.
‘It’s the same for every player, but it’s different for him. I hope to get the most out of what he has to offer us.’
Pogba will have the immediate chance to impress should he get the nod this weekend, as his side host Ligue 1 strugglers Paris FC tomorrow evening.
‘People want to see the real Paul Pogba’ – the star’s words after joining Monaco in the summer
Pogba won the EFL Cup and Europa League at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho’s reign
Monaco then make the tricky trip to Bodo/Glimt’s Aspmyra Stadion, located just above the Arctic Circle.
It would be unlikely Pocognoli would look to risk Pogba in Norway given his lengthy absence, but his side are languishing near the bottom of Europe’s premier competition with no wins from three attempts thus far.
The Frenchman will be keen to kick off his career revival after telling Daily Mail Sport last year how he discovered the news that he would be able to play football again in 2025.
‘Here’s a funny story: I was trying on a new suit for a film premiere but I didn’t have my phone,’ Pogba said.
‘My wife (Zulay) comes rushing upstairs with my phone screaming, ‘It’s the lawyer’. I said I would call him back but she said I had to take the call.
‘So I went downstairs to speak to him with the suit on! He told me the news and I was silent. Everyone was jumping, so happy but I was in shock.
‘Quickly that happiness turned into a determination. We went through hell. A time of darkness. But this is my second chance, I have to use it. I was pumped.’
