PogBACK: Paul Pogba Returns to Football After Suspension and Family Turmoil

Paul Pogba is back. Not just on social media, not just in training photos — but really back, signed and ready to return to professional football. After nearly two years on the sidelines, the controversial French midfielder will attempt to rebuild his career with AS Monaco.

From Superstar to Scapegoat — and Back Again?

Pogba has always been a paradox. Gifted beyond measure, charismatic, and a born leader, yet somehow he’s spent much of his career underdelivering. Whether due to poor club choices, injuries, or friction with coaches, his trajectory has felt like one long string of missed opportunities.

His 2022 return to Juventus — a homecoming that was supposed to reignite his career — quickly turned into a nightmare. In 2023, he tested positive for elevated testosterone levels and was hit with a four-year doping ban. Pogba claimed the banned substance came from nutritional supplements recommended by a doctor friend, who failed to disclose the hormonal ingredients. That defense held up in court, and in late 2024, his suspension was reduced to 18 months.

Now, with the ban behind him, Pogba is ready for a second chance — and Monaco will be the stage for his comeback.

“The Club Doesn’t Matter. I Just Want to Play.”

Fabrizio Romano reports that Pogba has signed with AS Monaco. And according to the player himself, club prestige is irrelevant at this stage:

“I need to get back on the pitch. The club doesn’t matter. Gignac
played in Mexico and still got into the national team. Kanté came back
while playing in Saudi Arabia. It’s all on me now.”

At 32, Pogba knows time isn’t on his side. But if his recent training photos and motivational captions are any indication — “I’m staying ready” and “The time has come” — he’s embracing the grind. Former teammates like Jesse Lingard have even popped up in the comments, cheering him on.

Life After the Ban: Style, Miami, and Staying Relevant

Pogba didn’t exactly disappear during his suspension. His social media presence remained strong — twelve posts in the last month alone, most of them from workouts or brand shoots. In March, he celebrated his birthday in Miami, hanging out with tennis star Carlos Alcaraz and NBA forward Jimmy Butler. Despite the career turmoil, Pogba never looked happier.

He was reportedly in talks with clubs from the MLS and even Russian side Zenit, but eventually chose to stay in Europe. Whether that decision was motivated by legacy, logistics, or a desire to be close to the French national setup remains unclear — but the move to Monaco keeps him on the radar.

And yes, Pogba’s fashion game is still elite. Recent photos show him training with a collectible Labubu doll — a nod to his quirky image and refusal to let adversity dull his personality.

“Juventus Left Me Alone”

Despite staying in shape and posting upbeat content, Pogba has made it clear he felt abandoned during his doping ordeal:

“Juventus didn’t support me. No fitness coach, no physio. That shocked
me. I thought I was fighting the anti-doping agency, not the club.”

Quoted in La Gazzetta dello Sport, his comments point to a deep frustration with how quickly the club moved on from one of their biggest names.

Healing Off the Pitch: The Family Scandal

Pogba’s off-field troubles weren’t limited to the doping case. In 2022, a disturbing family drama surfaced — one that involved blackmail, betrayal, and even accusations of witchcraft. Pogba was reportedly kidnapped by a group of childhood friends demanding €13 million — money they claimed he owed for “forgetting his roots.”

Shockingly, one of the accused was his own brother, Mathias Pogba, a former professional player himself. The group was eventually convicted, with Mathias receiving a one-year sentence and others getting between five and eight years. The infamous "Mbappé voodoo curse" story? Completely fabricated to smear Pogba and extort him further.

Now, with that nightmare behind him, Pogba says he’s changed — mentally stronger and spiritually renewed:

“I’ve seen real life. It aged me ten years, in a good way. It was
cleansing.”

Mbappé’s Blessing: “PogBACK!”

Fittingly, the player once accused of being cursed by Pogba — Kylian Mbappé — was one of the first to publicly welcome him back. On social media, Mbappé wrote:

“PogBACK. Allez Monaco!”

Whatever lies ahead, Pogba’s return is more than just a transfer — it’s a redemption arc in progress. And for a man who’s been written off so many times, this might just be the start of his most compelling chapter yet.

Published by Patrick Jane
26.06.2025