Paul Pogba set for football return after two years out – sources

MONACO – Paul Pogba is set to make his first competitive appearance in more than two years after AS Monaco named the midfielder in their travelling squad to face Rennes on Saturday, following the reduction of his doping suspension to 18 months, club sources said on Thursday.

Pogba, 32, has not played since a 28-minute outing for Juventus against Empoli on Sept. 3, 2023. He was handed a four-year ban in February 2024 after testing positive for DHEA the previous August, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cut the sanction on appeal, clearing him to return from March 2025.

The former Manchester United midfielder joined Monaco on a two-year contract at the end of June, marking his first involvement in Ligue 1 after leaving Le Havre’s academy for England at 16. His inclusion against Rennes comes after a sustained, five-month rehabilitation programme designed to restore fitness and guard against re-injury, sources said.

Monaco manager Sébastien Pocognoli, appointed just over a month ago, has pushed for Pogba’s reintegration as the club — sixth in the table and chasing Champions League qualification — look to add experience and control to a young midfield group. The plan is to phase Pogba in with limited minutes before building him up to full 90-minute workloads in successive fixtures.

Pogba, capped 91 times by France, has trained fully this week after recovering from a minor ankle issue that kept him out of the squad before the international break. Sources said his training performances have been strong, and he has emerged as a vocal influence in a young dressing room.

Juventus terminated Pogba’s contract in November 2024, leaving him to assess offers from several markets. He chose Monaco for the competitive project, the prospect of European football, and the stability it offered his family.

If he features on Saturday wearing Monaco’s No. 8 shirt, it will mark a significant step in his attempt to rebuild his career — and to push for a place in France’s squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.