Paul Pogba: Why Monaco have gambled on 'wildcard' move for Frenchman

When Paul Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban in February 2024, it was as much a question of 'if' as it was 'when' we would see the Frenchman again.

When that was reduced on appeal to 18 months in October, the 'if' was taken out of the equation. The 'when' remained partially unanswered, but it was then the 'where' that was on everyone's lips.

When an emotional Pogba put pen to paper on a two-year deal in the quaint village of La Turbie at the end of June, we had our answer.

Having not played since September 2023, it was AS Monaco who offered the 32-year-old a route back into the professional game, although they were far from the only interested party - even if clubs did bide their time following the expiry of his ban in March.

There were links to the United States, Saudi Arabia and Japan, as well as teams in his native France.

"We thought about [signing Pogba], we wanted to do it," said Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia in February. "The problem is, if we want to bring in a Pogba, who is not yet fit, does it make sense to alter the balance?"

Benatia didn't rule out his side making an approach but ultimately, because of significant doubts about the player's fitness, they didn't.

Monaco did. Pogba's availability for no fee, following the termination of his Juventus contract, was not inconsequential to the principality club's decision - even if, as Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro pointed out, "free agents have salaries too".

Amid a financial crisis that has gripped the French game, Monaco, like everyone, are attentive to market opportunities, of which Pogba was certainly one of the most tempting.

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