Pogba says he is talking to a club about comeback after ban
FORMER France midfielder Paul Pogba, who wants to resume his career after a doping ban, said on French television on Sunday he is 'talking' with a club, which sources close to him said was Monaco.
The 32-year-old also said he had re-established contact with his brother Mathias, sentenced to a year in prison last December for his involvement in a plot to extort 13 million euros ($15 million) from the 2018 World Cup winner.
Pogba, who played for Manchester United and Juventus, is hoping to put three chaotic years behind him.
Pogba suffered through repeated injuries and patchy form that led to his departure from United in 2022. He returned for a second stint at Juventus, where his problems continued.
He failed a drugs test after a game in Italy in August 2023 and was handed a four-year doping ban, which was reduced 18 months on appeal. It ended in March.
'It was very, very hard,' he said.
He said he was 'talking' to a club, which multiple sources said was Ligue 1 Monaco.
Pogba said he was determined 'to get back on the pitch, mentally ready, physically ready, it's just a matter of time'.
The extortion case involving six men linked to Paul Pogba shocked France because the perpetrators included three childhood friends and his own brother.
The five other defendants were found guilty of extortion, kidnapping and detention, as well as participation in a criminal association, and sentenced to up to eight years in prison. All six were also fined.
Paul Pogba said he was talking to Mathias who is being allowed to serve his sentence wearing an electronic bracelet rather than behind bars.
'We are in contact. We've spoken, among ourselves, with the family,' Paul Pogba said. 'It's a blood bond. There was a scar, of course. We're moving forward. Only time can give us answers.'
'All we want is to always be united as a family. That's the most important thing. It's hard. Of course it's very hard, I'm not going to lie. I was hurt. It's not the same as before, but we're in touch,' he added.
Paul Pogba was held at gunpoint in 2022 by two hooded men who demanded money.
He said on Sunday that he was initially willing to pay but 'afterwards, I cracked,' he said, deciding 'to speak out, even if it meant dying' and refusing 'to throw away my money like that'.
He said the ban and the court case had changed him
'I learned a lot during this period,' Pogba said. 'I did a lot of cleaning around myself too. I am also much closer to my family, my children.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
Botafogo Stun PSG as Textor's Vision Sparks Revival
ONCE Brazilian football royalty, Botafogo had languished for decades as a debt-ridden sleeping giant before they toppled Paris St Germain at the Club World Cup to cap a resurrection tale three years in the making. When American entrepreneur John Textor acquired the club in 2022, fresh from their promotion back to Brazil's first division, he took on a training ground so decrepit that then-coach Luis Castro dismissed it as 'good for parking cars,' alongside crushing liabilities exceeding one billion reais ($181.39 million). Botafogo were a storied but shattered institution. The club that once nurtured Brazilian greats - Garrincha, Zagallo, Jairzinho and Nilton Santos, architects of three World Cup triumphs - was drowning in debt, having endured the humiliation of relegation three times in just over a decade. On Thursday, they outplayed European champions Paris St Germain to win 1-0 in the Club World Cup's most eye-catching upset, propelling themselves to the top of the tournament's 'group of death' and on the verge of the knockout stage. Their squad, assembled through shrewd bargain-hunting in football's forgotten corners, now faces Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in Los Angeles on Monday, sitting comfortably, knowing even a two-goal defeat would still secure their passage to the round of 16. The victory over PSG vindicated Textor's vision, outlined in a Reuters interview three years prior, of 'beating the system' through astute scouting in under-explored talent pools. The architects of Thursday's victory exemplified this approach. Match-winner Igor Jesus arrived as a free agent after three anonymous years in the UAE and was transformed into a Brazil international. Argentine defender Alexander Barboza, who neutralised PSG's vaunted attack, was plucked from Paraguay's Club Libertad for nothing. Captain Marlon Freitas came from second-division Atletico Goianiense, while experienced European campaigners Alex Telles and Allan were revitalised after spells in Middle Eastern leagues. Gregore, Jefferson Savarino, John and Cuiabano were all signed for under two million euros ($2.30 million) each. 'The goal is to be sustainably competitive every year,' Botafogo CEO Thairo Arruda told Reuters. 'With a top six payroll, we produce like a top three.' The transformation extends far beyond the pitch. Revenues have soared from 140 million reais in 2022 to projected earnings exceeding 1.1 billion by 2025, while liabilities have been slashed by 40%. Textor's Eagle Football empire also encompasses stakes in Ligue 1's Olympique Lyonnais and Premier League Crystal Palace. Botafogo's renaissance - crowned by last year's domestic and continental double - has breathed new life into a club motto once heavy with self-pity: 'There are things that only happen to Botafogo.' After outclassing Europe's elite, those words now carry an altogether sweeter resonance.
The Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Sun
Paul Pogba Eyes Monaco Move After Doping Ban Ends
FORMER France midfielder Paul Pogba, who wants to resume his career after a doping ban, said on French television on Sunday he is 'talking' with a club, which sources close to him said was Monaco. The 32-year-old also said he had re-established contact with his brother Mathias, sentenced to a year in prison last December for his involvement in a plot to extort 13 million euros ($15 million) from the 2018 World Cup winner. Pogba, who played for Manchester United and Juventus, is hoping to put three chaotic years behind him. Pogba suffered through repeated injuries and patchy form that led to his departure from United in 2022. He returned for a second stint at Juventus, where his problems continued. He failed a drugs test after a game in Italy in August 2023 and was handed a four-year doping ban, which was reduced 18 months on appeal. It ended in March. 'It was very, very hard,' he said. He said he was 'talking' to a club, which multiple sources said was Ligue 1 Monaco. Pogba said he was determined 'to get back on the pitch, mentally ready, physically ready, it's just a matter of time'. The extortion case involving six men linked to Paul Pogba shocked France because the perpetrators included three childhood friends and his own brother. The five other defendants were found guilty of extortion, kidnapping and detention, as well as participation in a criminal association, and sentenced to up to eight years in prison. All six were also fined. Paul Pogba said he was talking to Mathias who is being allowed to serve his sentence wearing an electronic bracelet rather than behind bars. 'We are in contact. We've spoken, among ourselves, with the family,' Paul Pogba said. 'It's a blood bond. There was a scar, of course. We're moving forward. Only time can give us answers.' 'All we want is to always be united as a family. That's the most important thing. It's hard. Of course it's very hard, I'm not going to lie. I was hurt. It's not the same as before, but we're in touch,' he added. Paul Pogba was held at gunpoint in 2022 by two hooded men who demanded money. He said on Sunday that he was initially willing to pay but 'afterwards, I cracked,' he said, deciding 'to speak out, even if it meant dying' and refusing 'to throw away my money like that'. He said the ban and the court case had changed him 'I learned a lot during this period,' Pogba said. 'I did a lot of cleaning around myself too. I am also much closer to my family, my children.'
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Soccer-Only six? City boss Guardiola wanted another goal against Al-Ain
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Manager Pep Guardiola was a little disappointed that Manchester City were unable to get a seventh goal in their rout of Al-Ain on Sunday despite the English club securing passage to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup. German Ilkay Gundogan scored two goals as City comfortably dispatched the Emiratis 6-0 at Mercedes-Benz stadium to draw level with Juventus on points and goal difference at the top of Group G. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT City play Juventus in their final opening-round match on Thursday to decide who tops the group and who finishes second. Juventus go into the clash with a slight edge as goals scored is the second tiebreaker after goal difference for teams level on points. Juve have scored nine goals to City's eight. In the round of 16, the top team in Group G will play the second-placed team in Group H, currently Red Bull Salzburg, while the runners-up will face the top team, currently 15-times European champions Real Madrid. KEY QUOTES Guardiola: "We pushed and pushed to score another goal to try to finish first, but we missed by one goal. But yeah, we know what we need to do against the Italian team to finish as number one." Guardiola on substitute Rodri's gradual return from an ACL injury: "Step-by-step. He cannot play more than 30 minutes. He still struggles a bit in the duels, still needs to be a little bit stronger, but it's normal. "It's important he played much, much better than the previous game. We miss him a lot. Any team would miss the best player in the world." Guardiola on goalscorer Claudio Echeverri: "It's a pity for the twisted (ankle), which is a little bit sore. It was a problem, that's why he could not continue after halftime. He's an incredible player, a big, big talent in small spaces. I'm happy for him, because it was a great goal."
