Paul Pogba Joins Monaco, Aims For France National Team Recall

‎During his unveiling at Monaco on Thursday, Paul Pogba said that returning to the French national team “would of course still be a dream and a bonus for me.”

‎The 2018 World Cup winner has earned 91 caps for France but hasn’t represented Les Bleus since March 2022. His absence has been due to injuries and an 18-month doping suspension that ended four months ago.

‎”It’s the wish of every French football player to represent the France national team, but there are stages,” said the 32-year-old.

‎”Today I’m at stage one: coming back and performing well.

‎”There are spots to be won and you have to earn them because it’s a very, very good group, a great team,” he added.

‎In Pogba’s absence, France reached the final of the 2022 World Cup but were beaten on penalties by a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.

‎Last year, they reached the semi-finals of the European Championship, where they were defeated 2-1 by Spain, the eventual winners.

‎Pogba career now

‎On Saturday, midfielder Pogba signed a two-year contract with Ligue 1 club Monaco to rejuvenate his career.

‎The former Manchester United star has only made 12 appearances over the past three seasons due to injuries, suspension, and an extortion case in which he was involved as a victim.

‎Pogba failed a drugs test in August 2023 after a match for Juventus and has been free to return to football since March, although his contract at the Italian giants had been terminated last year.

‎In 2024, Pogba’s brother Mathias was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for his role in a 2022 extortion attempt to extract 13 million euros ($15.3 million) from Pogba.

‎Pogba has previously won four Italian league titles with Juventus and the 2017 Europa League with Manchester United.

‎He will now play club football in France for the first time in his professional career.