Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba made his long-awaited return for Monaco in a heavy defeat against Paris FC in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Paul Pogba has had to deal with plenty of hardship since his Manchester United departure in 2022.
Shortly after returning to Juventus as a free agent, the France international suffered a meniscus injury. This meant Pogba missed his country’s run to the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, and he didn’t make his competitive debut for Juventus until February 2023.
Pogba suffered more injuries and was hit with a doping ban before serving an 18-month ban. After signing for Monaco at the beginning of this season, the former United academy graduate has spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch.
Paul Pogba returns for Monaco against Paris FC
Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images
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Pogba’s stint at Monaco has been a frustrating one.
There have been several setbacks for Pogba after returning from the doping ban, but the latest has been a persistent calf issue that has kept him out of competitive action for four months.
Pogba received a boost last week after being included in the matchday squad as Monaco suffered a 2-1 defeat against Marseille.
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On Friday night, Pogba made his eagerly-awaited return to competitive football by coming on as a substitute against Paris FC.
The 33-year-old played the final 21 minutes as Marseille lost the game 4-1.
It was a short cameo, and Pogba struggled to make a big enough impact to turn the game around, earning a 5.99 rating from WhoScored.
Pogba didn’t make any tackles, interceptions, or key passes, but he did manage 25 passes (84% successful) and touched the ball 30 times.
⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
Paul Pogba returned to action for Monaco after a four-month absence
Pogba came off the bench against Paris FC and played 21 minutes
Monaco lost the game 4-1
Did Manchester United make a mistake signing Paul Pogba in 2016?
How many appearances has Paul Pogba made for Monaco this season?
The answer to that is not as many as he would have liked when he signed for the club as a free agent last summer.
Pogba’s substitute cameo against Paris FC was his fourth appearance of the Ligue 1 season.
Sebastien Pocognoli will hope that Pogba can stay fit for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. With more game time, the experienced midfielder will gain match fitness and sharpness.
Pogba could make its fifth Ligue 1 appearance of the season when Monaco host Auxerre next weekend.
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