Paul Pogba, 33, sustained a new injury to his left thigh on Tuesday during the opening day of Monaco's training camp at St George's Park in England, according to sources close to the matter, raising questions about his future at the Ligue 1 club.
Pogba suffers new thigh injury at Monaco training camp, raising contract uncertainty
Paul Pogba, 33, sustained a new injury to his left thigh on Tuesday during the opening day of Monaco's training camp at St George's Park in England, according to sources close to the matter, raising questions about his future at the Ligue 1 club.
The injury occurred the day after Monaco beat Liverpool in a preseason friendly on Sunday. Pogba had only recently returned to group training following a prolonged spell with right-knee problems and had featured for just one half of football for Monaco during preseason.
Sources close to the matter say the new setback indicates Pogba remains some distance from the fitness level required ahead of the French league season.
Reports have emerged of widespread speculation that Monaco have begun talks with Pogba's representatives about buying him out of the remainder of his contract, which is due to expire at the end of the coming season.
Pogba served 18 months of a four-year doping ban before joining Monaco in 2025. Last season he made six Ligue 1 appearances for the club, accumulating 115 minutes of playing time in total.
Pogba began his career at Manchester United before then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson released him on a free transfer in 2012 following a dispute with the player's agent. Juventus signed him at age 19, and he won four consecutive Serie A titles and reached a Champions League final before rejoining United in 2016 for what was then a world-record transfer fee of $120.2 million.
He returned to Juventus on a free transfer in 2022 and was released by the Italian club in 2024 while serving his doping ban. Monaco subsequently gave him his first experience of senior football in France.
Pogba won the FIFA World Cup with France in 2018, scoring his country's third goal in a 4-2 final victory over Croatia. He earned 91 caps for the French national team, scoring 11 goals, with his last appearance coming in a 5-0 friendly win over South Africa in 2022.
- Monaco has not been quoted directly on the injury, Pogba's fitness outlook, or any contract discussions.
- Pogba himself has not been quoted or given an opportunity to respond.
- The nature and expected recovery timeline of the left thigh injury have not been specified.
- No official confirmation of contract buyout talks has been provided; the reports are attributed only to unspecified sources.
Read the original at Al Jazeera English