Former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba made his long-awaited debut for Monaco on Saturday, marking his first on-pitch action in over two years.
Pogba, aged 32, entered the match during the 85th minute of a 4-1 defeat against Rennes in the French league, receiving a warm reception from fans at Roazhon Park.
“Football isn’t over for me. We’ve put in a lot of effort and waited more than two years for this moment, and it has finally arrived. Thank God,” Pogba expressed to reporters afterward, as reported by AFP.
“It truly moved me to see the crowd rise and applaud,” he added. “I didn’t expect such a response, so I want to extend a huge thank you to all the fans who supported me today.”
Once a thriving star and world champion for France, Pogba’s career has been impacted by injuries, personal challenges, and a doping ban.
He was emotional when signing his two-year contract with Monaco earlier this offseason, aiming to revive his career. Recently, he overcame a minor ankle injury and rejoined training with Monaco during the international break.
It had been 811 days since his last appearance, which occurred on September 3, 2023, for Juventus.
At his best, Pogba was instrumental in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, notably scoring in the final as France triumphed 4-2 over Croatia. He played most of his career between United and Juventus, parting ways with the Italian club in November 2024.
In 2016, Pogba made history by becoming the most expensive soccer player at the time when he rejoined United from Juventus for €105 million ($116 million).
The most significant setback of his career occurred in February 2024 when he received an initial four-year ban from Italy’s anti-doping court after testing positive for testosterone while still with Juventus. The Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced his ban to 18 months in October 2024.
“I’m relieved to be back playing football, the thing I love most in the world,” Pogba stated.
“However, there’s still much work ahead to regain full fitness, complete 90 minutes, and contribute to the team as much as I can.”
This report includes information from The Associated Press.