Pogba’s Return to Football: A Journey with Monaco

Paul Pogba officially departed from Juventus in November 2024, as his contract was mutually terminated. Following this, he was linked to several clubs but ultimately chose to sign with AS Monaco, allowing him to compete in domestic football within his home country of France for the first time in his career.

After diligently working on his match fitness and overcoming minor injuries, Pogba made his long-anticipated return to football with his Monaco debut on November 22, entering as a substitute during a 4-1 defeat against Rennes.

Currently, Pogba is once again contending with injury issues, yet his presence in the Monaco dressing room remains impactful. In a recent interview with The Guardian, fellow midfielder, Camara, spoke highly of Pogba’s influence behind the scenes. “As soon as I learned that Monaco was interested in Pogba, I thought we were incredibly fortunate to have him on our team,” Camara remarked. “We know he is a world-class player, yet he carries himself with humility and authenticity. His experience can bring us significant value, and we hope he regains full fitness soon, as we will need him throughout the season.”

Camara, who is currently representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, also shared conversations he has had with Pogba about their shared African heritage. “I ask him all sorts of questions, even about Senegalese cuisine. He mentioned that his favorite dish is Thieboudienne—like most people!”

Despite being a frequent subject of transfer speculation, Camara expressed his commitment to staying at Monaco alongside Pogba. “At the moment, I am genuinely happy at Monaco. I feel comfortable here; the players are supportive and ambitious, and I have a manager who has confidence in me. I do follow the Premier League; everyone does. However, I’m not considering a club change right now, but we will see what transpires at the end of the season,” he stated.

Monaco was expected to compete for a Champions League spot in Ligue 1 this season after finishing third last year. However, they entered the winter break in ninth place, nine points adrift of the top four, and are the only top-half team with a negative goal difference. Currently, they sit 19th in the Champions League group stage table, where teams ranked ninth to 24th qualify for a knockout round play-off.

“We recognize that we are dropping points that we shouldn’t lose,” Camara added. “During these challenging moments, our manager, Sebastien Pocognoli, reassures us, consistently reminding us that he supports us and believes we will overcome this phase.”

Pogba aims to play a more significant role for Monaco in the latter half of the season, although head coach Pocognoli remains cautious about managing the 32-year-old’s fitness. “The fact that he has returned to play after what he has endured is already remarkable. However, I cannot focus on the future just yet. He is working hard, and we are here to support him. I understand the concerns, but my priority is managing the team, and Paul is part of our plans once he is ready to contribute.”

Prior to the winter break, Monaco lost five of their last six Ligue 1 matches, with their sole victory during that period coming against the champions, Paris Saint-Germain, where Pogba made a late substitute appearance to help secure the 1-0 win.