Paul Pogba (32), who faced 'use of banned substances,' is returning through AS Monaco. He signed a 2-year contract.

AS Monaco, which belongs to France's Ligue 1, officially announced on the 29th (Korea time) that it has reached an agreement with Pogba.

The midfielder, who was formerly with Juventus, tested positive for a banned substance in a random drug test following a match against Udinese in the 2023-2024 season, receiving a 4-year suspension. However, after an appeal, the ban was reduced to 18 months last October.

According to the final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Pogba accidentally consumed DHEA, a substance that raises male hormone testosterone levels. This substance is included in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list. However, the court stated that DHEA is a substance that only affects women.

After signing the contract that day, Pogba conveyed his gratitude to the Monaco club, saying, "Thank you for trusting me," as he was seen in tears, according to the BBC.

Having mutually terminated his contract with Juventus last November, Pogba became a free agent (FA). He was eligible to play as of March this year, and Monaco extended an offer.

With this contract, Pogba will step onto the French Ligue 1 stage for the first time.

Meanwhile, Pogba made his first-team debut with Manchester United (Man U) in 2011 before moving to Juventus in 2012. After entering the Italian stage, he achieved four consecutive Serie A titles from the 2012-2013 season to the 2015-2016 season, and he recorded doubles by winning the Coppa Italia in both the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons.

In the summer of 2016, Pogba returned to Manchester United for a then-world record transfer fee of £89 million (approximately 135 billion won). In his first year back during the 2016-2017 season, he led the team to win the UEFA Europa League and the FA Cup.

However, the last three years he spent at Manchester United from the 2019-2020 season to the 2021-2022 season were marked by recurring injuries and inconsistent performances, leaving much to be desired. He transferred back to Juventus in the summer of 2022, but he was unable to showcase impressive performances due to knee injuries and disciplinary issues.

[Photo] Monaco's social media account

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