AS Monaco have reportedly informed Paul Pogba that they want to end his contract in a surprising new development in the midfielder’s career.
After 1,084 days, former Premier League star Pogba made his first start in a professional match back in May. It was his first start since May 14, 2023, when he was still playing for Italian giants Juventus.
During his time at Juventus, the French midfielder received a four-year doping ban. However, the punishment was later reduced to 18 months after an appeal, allowing him to return to football from March 2025.
Three months later, Pogba joined Ligue 1 club AS Monaco on a two-year contract. However, injuries caused major problems during his comeback, and he made only six substitute appearances in his first season.
There were hopes that Pogba could finally rebuild his career during his second season at Monaco. However, he suffered another injury during the club’s pre-season training camp at St George’s Park and was forced to stop training with the team.
According to local outlet Nice-Matin, the 33-year-old needed immediate treatment from Monaco’s medical staff after falling to the ground in pain.
Two members of the club’s staff then helped Pogba leave the training pitch, raising fresh concerns about the seriousness of his injury.
It has now been reported that Monaco have offered to end Pogba’s contract by mutual agreement before September 1, which would allow the midfielder to find another club this year.
Pogba still has one year remaining on his contract, meaning the final decision is technically his. However, Monaco have reportedly made it clear that they would prefer him to leave this summer.
The development comes after Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro admitted last month that the club would use pre-season to evaluate Pogba’s physical condition before deciding his future.
Scuro said: “It is a complicated topic because we have a lot of respect for Paul, for the person he is. Since he arrived, he has been very positive.
“It is also true that, last year, the project didn’t work well because when we started with him in the summer, the expectations were very different to what happened.
“I think that we have to be fair with him, follow his preparation every week, how he will progress physically and technically and then it will be the manager’s decision.”
Speaking about the possibility of Pogba leaving during the summer, Scuro added: “We have the summer to see what level we will see from Pogba. He could [leave at the end of the summer].
“With Paul, it has always been a very open and transparent relationship.”
What’s next for Paul Pogba?
If Pogba accepts Monaco’s offer to end his contract by mutual agreement, he will become a free agent with around three weeks remaining before the transfer window closes on September 1.
The full extent of Pogba’s latest injury is still unclear. If he faces a long spell on the sidelines, finding a new club before the end of the summer could be difficult.
However, if the injury is only a minor problem, several clubs could still be interested in signing the World Cup winner. A possible return to the Premier League also cannot be ruled out.
