Paul Pogba's future takes shock twist after football return

AS Monaco have officially told Paul Pogba that they wish to terminate his contract in a shock career twist.

After 1,084 days, former Premier League star Pogba made his first start in a professional football match back in May, his first time on the pitch since May 14, 2023, when he was playing for Serie A giants Juventus.

During his spell with the Italian club, the Frenchman was hit with a four-year doping ban that was later reduced to 18 months on appeal, allowing him to return from March 2025.

Three months later, Pogba signed a two-year deal with Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, but his comeback was held back by a series of injury issues, making just six substitue appearances in his first season with the club.

Heading into his second season with Monaco hopes were high that Pogba could finally get his career back on track, but things took a cruel turn as he suffered another injury that forced out of team training during their pre-season camp at St George’s Park.

According to local outlet Nice-Martin, the 33-year-old required immediate attention from Monaco’s medical staff after he went to the ground with a cry of pain

Two members of the club’s staff then had to help Pogba get off the training pitch, raising concerns about the extent of the injury,

And now, it's been revealed that Monaco have offered to mutually terminate Pogba's contract with the club by September 1st to let Paul find new club this year.

With a year left on his deal, the decision is technically up to Pogba, but he has been informed that it is the club's wishes to let him go this summer.

The news comes after Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro admitted last month that the training camp this summer would be used to assess Pogba's physical ability and decide on 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 a potential transfer this summer, he 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.”

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What's next for Paul Pogba?

If Pogba is to accept the mutual contract termination, it will leave him a free agent with just three weeks left until the transfer window officially shuts on September 1.

It's not yet known just how severe Pogba's injury is, but if he is out for a long time then it is unlikely that he will be able to find a club willing to take him before the end of the summer.

However, if Pogba is only set to be sidelined for a short period, then there will no doubt be any number of clubs willing to take the risk on the World Cup winner, with a return to the Premier League not beyond the realms of possibility.