Man Utd hero Paul Pogba shares 11-word message as update on football return emerges

Paul Pogba has not played a minute of senior football since 2023 but the French international has found himself a new club and he now has a potential return date

Paul Pogba has provided a cryptic update on social media as he nears a return to professional football for the first time in two years. The former Manchester United midfielder hasn’t played since failing a doping test during his second Juventus spell, but is now well and truly on the comeback trail.

The Frenchman’s original four-year ban was reduced on appeal, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport accepting his doping offence was ‘not intentional’, and he was free to return to the pitch in March. The wait has gone on a little longer than that, but he has found a new club in the form of Monaco and is nearing a senior debut.

“You stay grounded in faith, even when the path isn’t clear,” Pogba wrote in an 11-word message on Instagram. He was given a provisional October return date upon moving to Stade Louis II, though manager Adi Hutter appears set to give him a little longer to return to the point where he’s ready to deliver at the top level.

Per reports in France, Monaco boss Hutter doesn’t expect to have Pogba back available before the October international break but hopes to have him back shortly after that. It’s a different story with fellow summer signing Ansu Fati, though, with the Spain international close to making his bow after joining on loan from Barcelona.

“We can’t wait to have him on the pitch,” Hutter said of Fati. The 22-year-old was back at Barca last season after a year on loan at Brighton but played just six-times in La Liga during an injury-hit campaign.

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The Monaco boss also gave an update on Poga, insisting the former United star is “on the right track” but that his first game back may not come for a little while longer. He said: “After the next international break, I think we’ll be able to see him play for AS Monaco.

“He’s on the right track. It’s taking a little longer than for Ansu, but he’s doing well.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but I’m impressed by what he’s doing every day to come back. He’s a very professional player. I hope to see him again after the next international break.”

Pogba’s suggested return date means he is unlikely to be back in time to face Manchester City in the Champions League on October 1. Hutter has named him in Monaco’s Champions League squad, though, and the French international could feature later in the league phase against Tottenham, Real Madrid of Juventus.

The World Cup winning midfielder was visibly emotional in his signing video, and has spoken about the moment with club media. “It’s true that I was overwhelmed with emotion at that moment. I must say that it’s very rare to see me cry like that, so I hope you enjoyed it,” he said with a smile.

“A lot of images that came to mind, in relation to what I went through. So to come back and sign for AS Monaco, for a club that believed in me, all of that came back to me at the moment of my signing, which meant that I couldn’t hold back.

“But above all, it was a moment of joy! But I also feel a lot of determination in me, and I think I made the best choice in coming here.”

Monaco finished third in Ligue 1 last season to qualify for the Champions League, and sit fourth in the table after three games of the new season. On Saturday they travel to Auxerre with the goal of earning their first away points of the new campaign.

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