Monaco midfielder Paul Pogba has been included in Les Monegasques' squad for the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League, meaning that the former Manchester United man could potentially make his debut against Manchester City.
The 32-year-old joined the Principality club on a two-year contractthis summer after his doping ban was reduced to 18 months from a potentially career-threatening four years.
Pogba has not played a competitive match for a little over two years, though, last featuring for Juventus on September 3, 2023 before he was slapped with a provisional suspension for elevated levels of testosterone.
Monaco are easing Pogba back into action slowly, and the French World Cup winner has not yet featured for Adi Hutter's side in Ligue 1 action, but he could now be set for a blockbuster debut in the red and white kit.
Les Monegasques' squad for the 36-team Champions League league phase has been confirmed, and Pogba features as Monaco's number eight, raising hopes of a headline-making debut.
Why Pogba could make Monaco debut against Man City in Champions League
Monaco's Paul Pogba pictured in July 2025
According to Get French Football News, Pogba is not expected to return to competitive action before the end of September, so he should not appear in Monaco's European opener against Club Brugge two weeks from now.
However, the Monaco staff have supposedly pencilled in the beginning of October as a provisional return date for the former £89m midfielder, and Les Monegasques take on none other than Man City on October 1 at home.
While a start would almost certainly be out of the question, there is a slim chance that Pogba could be part of the matchday squad or come off the bench against Pep Guardiola's side, who werelinked with a shock transfer for the Frenchman earlier this year.
Failing that, Pogba could make his Champions League debut for Monaco against another Premier League side three weeks later, as Hutter's men host Tottenham Hotspur at the Stade Louis II on October 22.
The Ligue 1 side also take on Bodo/Glimt (November 4), Pafos (November 25), Galatasaray (December 9), Real Madrid (January 20) and Pogba's former club Juventus (January 28) during the league phase.
Ansu Fati joins Pogba in Monaco's Champions League squad
Barcelona's Ansu Fati pictured on December 21, 2024
As well as Pogba being called up to Monaco's European ranks, there is a space in the squad for Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati, who is also yet to feature since joining Hutter's team on a temporary deal.
The 22-year-old was once regarded as the heir to the Lionel Messi throne at Barcelona, but a series of injuries stunted his development, and he made just 11 appearances for the Blaugrana last season.
Fati did turn out four times for Hansi Flick's side in the 2024-25 Champions League, but he played just 38 minutes across that quartet of fixtures, starting none of them.
Elsewhere in the squad, centre-back Eric Dier is set for an emotional Spurs reunion later this year, while former Arsenal strikers Folarin Balogun and Mika Biereth vie to lead the line.
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