'Close friend' Jesse Lingard (33, FC Seoul) chose the top five leagues in Europe instead of the K-League. Paul Pogba (32) is returning to the pitch after two years.
The British 'BBC' reported on the 14th (Korean time) that 'Pogba is aiming for a comeback through joining Monaco after receiving a doping suspension.' He is in consultations with Monaco about returning as a soccer player.
The outlet noted, 'The 32-year-old Pogba, a World Cup champion, is moving to return to his home country of France with a Ligue 1 team. Having played for Manchester United and Juventus, he is discussing a two-year contract with Monaco, which hopes to complete the signing within days.'
Pogba is ready for a return to active duty. The BBC added, 'Pogba has been negotiating with Monaco for several weeks. He has been planning his return while training individually ahead of the preseason.'
As long as there are no major surprises, Pogba is expected to don the Monaco uniform. 'ESPN' explained that 'According to sources, Pogba is set to end his two-year hiatus from soccer after starting negotiations with Monaco. He is also connected with clubs in the Saudi Pro League that are set to compete in the Club World Cup. However, discussions with Monaco are progressing smoothly. This will be Pogba's first return to a French team since he left Le Havre for Manchester United at the age of 16.'
Pogba tested positive for banned substances in September 2023. He underwent a random doping test after Juventus's 3-0 win over Udinese, which revealed issues with his testosterone levels. Testosterone is one of the typical banned substances that enhance athletes' endurance.
Pogba expressed his frustration, stating he has never intentionally used banned substances, but the same positive result appeared in a second test. Both samples contained dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which promotes the production of testosterone and other hormones. DHEA was once referred to as the 'elixir of youth' for its anti-aging and muscle-strengthening effects.
A supplement taken without much thought became a problem. 'ESPN' reported, 'According to one source, Pogba received a prescription for a dietary supplement from a doctor friend in Miami, USA. The specific supplement is available in the United States but not in Italy.'
Instead of negotiating a sentence with NADO, Pogba chose to pursue legal action with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS partially accepted Pogba's appeal, citing his argument for inadvertence and the fact that DHEA affects women as mitigating factors.
Thanks to this, his suspension period was reduced to 18 months, and the fine was canceled. A CAS panel confirmed evidence and legal arguments that Pogba's consumption of DHEA, which showed a positive result, was not intentional but resulted from a wrongful consumption of a supplement prescribed by a doctor in Florida.
Additionally, CAS stated, 'Since the doctor claimed to have treated several international players, Pogba received assurance that he would consider anti-doping obligations. He acknowledged his mistake and requested a 12-month suspension.' It further explained, 'Pogba received support from several experts. Most of the evidence he presented went unrefuted. Of course, this does not mean he is without fault, and he should have exercised greater caution as a professional athlete.'
Pogba has been away from the pitch for nearly two years, but he has not given up on his return to active duty. He expressed his desire last October, stating, 'I want to be on the pitch anywhere. The first choice is Juventus. I want to participate in training with my teammates. It's difficult to practice alone, passing against the wall.'
However, during that time, no teams have approached Pogba. Although his former teammate Adrien Rabiot from Ligue 1 Olympique Marseille expressed his desire to play alongside Pogba, it did not lead to actual negotiations. His former team, Juventus, also did not push for Pogba's return. Lingard, who was close to Pogba during his Manchester United days, expressed a desire to bring him to the K-League, but that did not materialize.
In fact, Pogba appeared most likely to head to the United States. He had spent his suspension in the U.S., appearing in the stands at several Major League Soccer (MLS) stadiums, including Los Angeles and Miami. Rumors of a transfer to D.C. United, which holds Pogba's discovery rights, circulated.
However, Pogba met with a team from a major European league that is interested in him. Negotiations with Monaco are expected to conclude soon. European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported, 'Monaco has proposed a two-year contract to Pogba. Negotiations are currently ongoing, and discussions regarding the club's project will continue this weekend.' He noted, 'Monaco is making efforts to reach an agreement with Pogba.'
Though it is not the Juventus he wanted, Pogba is set to play harder than ever. He previously remarked, 'I'm still the same player, but I have a different passion now. I have greater motivation and passion. Since I've been away from the pitch, I will be more grateful for the opportunity to play. I've realized how important soccer is to me.'
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (reprinting and redistribution prohibited), Foot Mercato, Dictate Sports, Sky Sports, Fabrizio Romano.
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