Paul Pogba excluded from Monaco’s Champions League squad
Paul Pogba will not feature in Monaco’s Champions League knockout campaign after being excluded from the club’s European squad, reports BritPanorama.
The former Manchester United midfielder is sidelined with a calf issue that has kept him out since early December. Since completing his 18-month doping suspension, the 32-year-old has managed only three brief substitute appearances, accumulating a total of half an hour on the pitch.
His attempted return has been hindered by ongoing fitness problems. Prior to his current setback, Pogba hadn’t played competitively for over two years, returning to action in late November. Monaco will face PSG in the knockout round play-offs later this month without him.
Monaco’s chief executive Thiago Scuro acknowledged in mid-January that “the plan implemented since Paul’s arrival isn’t working as expected.” When asked about the midfielder’s status during Simon Adingra’s presentation this week, Scuro provided little clarity regarding a potential timeline for Pogba’s return.
Scuro emphasized, “The entire medical department is focused on finding solutions,” but admitted that there is “no clear answer” and further development is needed to resolve the situation. He outlined a recovery pathway as the Frenchman seeks to regain his fitness.
Pogba’s comeback began on 22 November against Rennes, which ended a lengthy absence of 811 days, but Monaco lost that match 4-1. Subsequent brief appearances against PSG and Brest were followed by a further injury on 5 December, halting his progress completely.
The midfielder was included among the substitutes for Champions League group stage matches against Pafos and Galatasaray yet did not make it onto the field in either game. Under UEFA regulations, Monaco brought in new players for the knockout phase, signing Wout Faes and Simon Adingra while removing Mohammed Salisu and Takumi Minamino from the squad due to serious injuries.
Pogba received an initial four-year suspension in February 2024 after failing a drugs test the previous September. He maintained his innocence throughout the process, and an appeal reduced the ban to 18 months, but Juventus terminated his £200,000-per-week contract regardless. Though eligible to play from March 2025, he officially joined Monaco in June, signing a two-year deal.
The transfer to Monaco marked a pivotal moment for Pogba, enabling him to play in French football for the first time since leaving Le Havre at the age of 16. However, his future remains uncertain as he continues to grapple with injuries and recover from setbacks.
It serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of a sports career, especially for someone who once commanded the highest transfer fee in history. How the tides have turned, leaving a gifted player on the sidelines as the game carries on without him.
