Paul Pogba returns from doping ban for Monaco debut in Ligue 1

Ex-Juventus and France prima midfielder made his instrumentality to football, suiting up for Monaco successful archetypal crippled successful implicit 2 years aft drugs ban.

Paul Pogba described his affectional Monaco debut arsenic a infinitesimal of alleviation and gratitude connected Saturday aft the French midfielder returned to the transportation for the archetypal clip successful much than 2 years pursuing a doping ban.

The erstwhile Juventus and Manchester United player, who joined the Ligue 1 broadside connected a escaped transportation successful June, had not played a competitory lucifer since September 2023.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3‘This is similar coming home’: Barca thrash Athletic connected instrumentality to Camp Nou
• list 2 of 3Frank wants ‘controlled chaos’ arsenic Spurs look Arsenal successful North London derby
• list 3 of 3F1: Verstappen wins successful Las Vegas, Norris 2nd and extends lead

Pogba received a four-year prohibition successful February 2024 aft investigating affirmative for banned substance DHEA, which boosts testosterone levels. The suspension was chopped to 18 months aft an entreaty astatine the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The 32-year-old, who was nearing a instrumentality past period earlier suffering a close ankle injury, came connected successful the 85th infinitesimal of Monaco’s 4-1 decision by Rennes astatine Roazhon Park and was met with a lasting ovation.

“Seeing the assemblage emergence and applaud, I ne'er imagined that would happen,” Pogba told reporters. “I’m relieved to beryllium playing shot again, the happening I emotion astir successful the world.

“But there’s inactive enactment to bash to get backmost to afloat fittingness and beryllium capable to play 90 minutes… If I don’t execute good astatine Monaco, I tin hide astir the French nationalist team.

“I judge successful myself and successful my qualities, and since I knew I had done thing incorrect and it was not my fault, I ne'er mislaid hope.”

Pogba, who has made 91 appearances for France, played a starring relation successful his nation’s 2018 FIFA World Cup victory. Knee and hamstring injuries, arsenic good arsenic genu surgery, prevented him playing for France astatine the 2022 World Cup successful Qatar.

Pogba successful enactment during the French Ligue 1 lucifer betwixt Rennes and Monaco [Lou Benoist/AFP]