The CEO of Monaco has admitted that their expectations for Paul Pogba “are not materializing,” as the former France international has only managed to play 30 minutes since joining the club last summer.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who previously played for Manchester United and Juventus, signed a two-year contract with Monaco to revive his career after being affected by injuries and a doping ban.
Currently, Pogba is dealing with a left calf injury he picked up during training, which has kept him out of action for a month.
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The injury is just another setback in a long line of physical challenges for Pogba, who had to wait until late November for his Monaco debut.
“The strategy and plan for Paul aren’t progressing as we had hoped initially,” Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro stated on Wednesday. “He is troubled by his difficulties … [he wants] to be more available and to increase his playing time.”
Pogba was emotional when he signed with Monaco, a club currently struggling in ninth place in the Ligue 1 standings, 17 points behind leaders Lens.
Scuro expressed hope that Pogba would soon return to competitive action and make a meaningful impact, but alluded to certain clauses in his contract that could result in a shorter tenure at the club.
“If it doesn’t work out, we can certainly sit down in the summer to discuss the next steps,” he mentioned. “However, it’s not the right time for that conversation as we are focused on finding a solution and getting him back on the field.”
Pogba made history in 2016 when he became the most expensive football player at that time, returning to Manchester United from Juventus for €105 million (approximately $116 million).
A World Cup winner, Pogba has represented France 91 times and scored 11 goals. He was once regarded as one of the top midfielders in Europe for his exceptional technique, strong physique, stamina, intelligent passing, and versatility in midfield roles.
His last match for Les Bleus was nearly four years ago in a friendly against South Africa, and a lingering knee injury prevented him from participating in the 2022 World Cup.
Pogba was a pivotal player for France during their 2018 World Cup triumph, notably scoring in the final against Croatia, leading to a 4-2 victory.
He has expressed the desire to regain a spot in France’s squad for this year’s World Cup in North America, though that ambition now seems increasingly unlikely.
A significant setback in his career occurred in February 2024 when he received a four-year ban from Italy’s anti-doping court after a positive test for testosterone while at Juventus. However, in October 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his ban to 18 months.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.