Former France international Paul Pogba is gearing up for a return to football after completing an 18-month doping ban. The 32-year-old revealed in a French TV interview on Sunday that he is currently in talks with a club — widely believed to be Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.
Pogba’s career has faced serious setbacks in recent years, from injuries to a doping suspension. After struggling with fitness and form during his second spell at Juventus, he tested positive for banned substances in August 2023. Originally handed a four-year suspension, the ban was later reduced to 18 months and officially ended in March 2025.
“It was very, very hard,” Pogba said about the period away from the sport. “But I’m mentally and physically ready now. It’s just a matter of time before I’m back on the pitch.”
Off the field, Pogba has also been dealing with a painful family issue. His older brother, Mathias Pogba, was sentenced to one year in prison in December 2024 for his role in an extortion plot targeting Paul. The 2018 World Cup winner had been asked to pay €13 million by a group that included his own brother and three childhood friends. The case shocked France and drew widespread media attention.
Speaking on the current state of their relationship, Pogba said he has resumed contact with Mathias, who is serving his sentence under house arrest with an electronic tag.
“We’re talking again. It’s not like it used to be, but we’re trying to move forward as a family,” he said. “It’s a scar, but time will tell. Family is still important.”
Pogba recounted how he was once held at gunpoint in 2022 during the extortion attempt and admitted he considered paying the money. But eventually, he decided to go public.
“I cracked. I chose to speak out, even if it meant risking my life,” he said. “I wasn’t going to just throw away my money.”
The midfielder said the entire experience — from the extortion case to the doping ban — has changed him.
“I’ve learned a lot. I’ve cleaned up the people around me. Now I’m more focused on my kids and my close family,” he said.
With his legal issues behind him and his ban lifted, Pogba is now looking to turn a new page. If talks with Monaco go through, fans might soon see the once-celebrated midfielder back in action.
