Monaco’s bid for a place in the Champions League next season could be boosted by the return of midfielder Paul Pogba.
The former France star recently returned to light training after a long injury layoff due to an ongoing left calf problem, and on Thursday he scored in a friendly against Premier League team Brentford.
2018 World Cup winner Pogba signed a two-year contract with Monaco last summer but has played only around 30 minutes since his debut in late November.
Monaco is sixth in Ligue 1 with seven rounds to go. The top three qualify directly for next season’s Champions League and the team that finishes fourth goes through qualifying.
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Coach Sébastien Pocognoli has turned Monaco’s fortunes around and his side are on a six-match winning run and just three points behind third-place Marseille. Monaco will host Marseille on April 5, after the international break.
Pogba scored in the FIFA World Cup final against Croatia eight years ago, when he was considered one of the best midfielders in the world deryr4d.
He has also suffered thigh and ankle problems since joining Monaco after more than two years out of the game in a career derailed by injuries, off-field problems and a doping ban.
He previously played for Juventus and Manchester United.
In 2016, Pogba became the then most expensive footballer in history when he returned to United from Juventus for a fee of 105 million euros.
Published on March 26, 2026
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