Just six months after his emotional return to Ligue 1, Pogba’s recurring fitness issues have forced Monaco to seek a January exit.
The Paul Pogba experiment at AS Monaco is reportedly coming to a bitter end. After a highly publicized return to professional football following his doping ban, the 32-year-old midfielder has failed to find his rhythm. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Monaco board is now actively looking to offload the Frenchman in the current transfer window, frustrated by his inability to stay on the pitch.
A Season of Setbacks Pogba’s arrival was greeted with euphoria by the fans at Stade Louis II, but the statistics tell a different story. In the first half of the 2025/2026 season:
- Minutes Played: Only 34 minutes in total (3 substitute appearances).
- Injuries: Three separate injuries (thigh, ankle, and a persistent calf strain).
- Games Missed: 24 matches across all competitions.
Internal sources suggest the club has lost confidence in Pogba’s ability to regain the “match fitness” required for elite European football. With his market value currently plummeting to an estimated €5 million, Monaco are keen to cut their losses and free up their wage bill.
The “Memphis Effect” and the Brazil Connection Before signing with Monaco in 2025, Pogba was famously linked with a move to Corinthians in Brazil. Following the “Memphis Depay effect,” talks were held with the Brazilian giants and their sponsors, but the deal was eventually deemed “too high risk” due to Pogba’s long absence from the game.
With his time in France likely over, rumors of a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) or a revisit to the Brazilian league are already beginning to circulate.
Match Status:
- Current Status: Sidelined with a calf injury.
- Contract: Valid until 2027 (but likely to be terminated or sold).
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
