Pogba signs 2-year deal with Monaco to relaunch career after doping ban
Former France midfielder Paul Pogba joined Monaco on a two-year contract on Saturday in a bid to relaunch a stellar career derailed by injuries and a doping ban.
Monaco confirmed the widely expected transfer on the club website, and in a video posted on X, with the 32-year-old Pogba wearing the club's red-and-white jersey.
The former Juventus and Manchester United player will play in the French top flight for the first time.
Monaco finished third in Ligue 1 last season and Pogba, who has been without a club since leaving Juventus last year, gets the chance to play Champions League soccer again providing Monaco gets through qualifying.
Pogba honed his technique in France at Le Havre's academy but signed with Manchester United at age 16 in 2009.
Previously one of the world's top midfielders, Pogba made more headlines in recent years with his off-field problems.
Last year, Juventus said it came to 'a mutual agreement' with him to cancel his contract despite the 2018 World Cup winner having a ban for doping slashed. The Serie A club never seemed enthusiastic about welcoming him back after his four-year ban for doping was cut to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Pogba tested positive for testosterone in 2023 and was handed the maximum punishment by Italy's anti-doping court. CAS judges reduced it as they acknowledged a lack of intent and said his positive test was the result of erroneously taking a prescribed supplement.
In 2016, Paul became the then-most expensive soccer player in history when he returned to United from Juventus for a fee of 105 million euros ($116 million).
He has played 91 times for France and scored in the World Cup final when Les Bleus beat Croatia 4-2.
Kylian Mbappé, who also scored in the 2018 final and enjoyed a good relationship with Pogba, posted a message on Instagram saying 'Pogback' and 'Daghe Munegu' (which in Monaco dialect means 'Go Monaco.")
Overall, Pogba netted 39 goals for United in 226 games.
He returned to Juventus as a free agent in 2022, but injuries limited him to 12 matches in his second spell at the club.
___
AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed.
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
32 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Will Lionel Messi start for Inter Miami against PSG? Check out possible lineup and prediction
The Round of 16 clash in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is shaping up to be a classic, with Inter Miami set to take on Paris Saint-Germain on June 29 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. But this isn't just any matchup—it marks the first time Lionel Messi will face his former club, PSG, since leaving them in 2023. Emotions will be running high as Inter Miami's captain takes on the European champions in what promises to be a dramatic, nostalgic, and potentially history-making night. Is Lionel Messi Playing for Inter Miami? Let's cut to the chase: all signs point to Messi starting. The 38-year-old legend had a slight thigh issue in Inter Miami's 2-1 win over FC Porto, but he played the full game and looked sharp in training before their draw against Palmeiras. Fans on X are hyped, with posts saying Messi's ready to 'stick it to PSG' after his tough time there, where fans even booed him post-2022 World Cup. Inter Miami's coach, Javier Mascherano—who knows a thing or two about Messi from their Barcelona days—hinted that Leo's got extra fire for this one. 'When he's got a point to prove, he's unstoppable,' Mascherano said. Messi's been a wizard in the tournament, curling in a jaw-dropping free-kick against Porto (his 50th goal in 61 games for Miami!) and pulling the strings in midfield. Unless something wild happens last minute, expect Messi to lead the charge alongside his buddy Luis Suárez. Inter Miami's Possible Lineup Inter Miami's been rocking a 4-4-1-1 setup, letting Messi roam free to create magic as a playmaker or wing threat. Their squad mixes veterans like Messi, Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba with young guns like Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia, who've stepped up big time. Here's how we think they'll line up: Goalkeeper : Oscar Ustari Defenders : Marcelo Weigandt, Tomás Avilés, Maximiliano Falcón, Noah Allen Midfielders : Tadeo Allende, Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia Forwards: Lionel Messi (C), Luis Suárez PSG's Possible Lineup PSG, led by the tactical mastermind Luis Enrique, are stacked with young stars and proven winners, fresh off their first-ever Champions League title. They're likely to roll out a 4-3-3, and here's our best guess at their lineup: Goalkeeper : Gianluigi Donnarumma Defenders : Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes Midfielders : João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz Forwards: Désiré Doué, Gonçalo Ramos, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Our Prediction This game's got everything: heart, history, and high stakes. PSG's got the edge with their young, talented squad and Luis Enrique's slick system. Their press and possession could tire out Miami's older stars like Busquets, who might struggle to keep up with Vitinha and Ruiz. But never count out Messi. His free-kick against Porto and his knack for game-changing moments give Miami hope. Plus, with Mascherano, Suárez, Busquets, and Alba—veterans of Barcelona's epic 2017 comeback against PSG—there's a chance for some déjà vu magic. Still, PSG's defense, led by Marquinhos and Mendes, won't give Messi much room, and their attack, with Kvaratskhelia's flair and Ramos' finishing, could punish Miami's backline. We're calling it: PSG 3-1 Inter Miami. Messi might nick a goal or an assist to keep it close, but PSG's depth should seal it. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
How to watch Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami: TV channel and live stream for Club World Cup today
Luis Enrique and Paris Saint-Germain will get their Club World Cup knockout campaign underway this evening, meeting Inter Miami in Atlanta. The Floridian contingent were pipped to top spot in their group by Palmeiras on goal difference, which left them drawn into the trickier side of the bracket. Advertisement Should they upset the Parisians today, they will face either Flamengo or Bayern Munich in the quarter-final, after which they could meet Real Madrid, Juventus, or Borussia Dortmund. PSG topped their group despite being stunned by Botafogo on matchday two after smashing four past Atletico Madrid. They have already pulled off a quadruple this season, winning Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and the Champions League, and could kick off the chase for a fifth in earnest with a win over Miami. The Herons are the only host side left in the competition after the Seattle Sounders crashed out in the group stage, finishing pointless after losing to PSG, Botafogo, and Atletico Madrid. How to watch PSG vs Inter Miami TV Channel: Tonight's match will be broadcast live on Channel 5, with coverage starting from 4:30pm BST ahead of a 5pm kickoff. Advertisement Live stream: Viewers can watch the action live online via DAZN. Coverage will start from 4pm ahead of a 5pm kick-off. DAZN is the global broadcaster of the new-look Club World Cup. No subscription is required to watch the game, with the entire tournament available to their 'Freemium' members, which means you only need to sign up for a free DAZN account. Live blog: You can follow minute-by-minute updates right here with Standard Sport's LIVE blog!
2 hours ago
China's humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts
BEIJING -- While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown. Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing. According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience. China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. 'In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe,' Cheng said. 'For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe.' Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school's research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies—including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5–3 to win the championship. Mr. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. 'They (THU) did really well,' he said. 'But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises.' China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next years' competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
