Paul Pogba has reportedly been omitted from Monaco’s Champions League squad for the second half of the season as the former Man United star continues to struggle.
Pogba, 32, joined the principality side last June in an attempt to resurrect his career following an 18-month doping ban, which he previously described to Daily Mail Sport as ‘hell’.
However, the Frenchman initially struggled with various niggling injuries and his attempts to get back to full fitness having not played a competitive match in two years.
Pogba did eventually return to action on November 22 for his first appearance in 811 days, coming on late in a 4-1 defeat by Rennes – and he made two more substitute appearances against PSG and Brest, although these only cumulatively totalled 30 minutes.
The 32-year-old, who always maintained his innocence in regards to his doping ban, then suffered a calf injury and hasn’t featured since December 5.
And, according to French outlet RMC Sport, Pogba has now been left out of Monaco’s Champions League squad for the second half of the campaign as he continues to struggle with the issue.
Monaco will take on PSG in the knockout round play-offs later this month, and Pogba – alongside Mohammed Salisu and Takumi Minamino – have been taken out of the squad, with UEFA rules allowing clubs to register three new players for the knockout stages.
Salisu and former Liverpool star Minamino are both ruled out for the season with serious knee injuries.
Coming in to replace the trio are new signings Wout Faes and Simon Adingra, alongside Krepin Diatta.
Pogba made the bench for two Champions League League Phase fixtures against Pafos and Galatasaray, but failed to appear in either – and this latest setback raises serious doubts over his future at the club.
Speaking in mid-January, Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro admitted that ‘the plan implemented since Paul’s arrival isn’t working as expected’.
He was then asked further about Pogba’s fitness and potential return at the unveiling of Adingra this week.
‘The entire medical department is focused on finding solutions,’ Scuro said.
‘There’s no clear answer to that question. We still need to develop the process to clarify the situation.
‘As with any injury, the first step will be to get back on the pitch, then continue to progress in training to regain the necessary fitness to play.’
Pogba was originally handed a four-year doping ban in February 2024 after being suspended having failed a drugs test in September 2023.
The ban was later slashed to just 18 months after appeal, although his £200,000-per-week contract with Juventus was still ripped up.
He was eligible to play from March 2025 onwards, but it took him until June to land at Monaco, where he signed a two-year deal.
This allowed him to play domestic football in France for the first time in his career after he joined Man United from Le Havre at the age of 16.
