Manchester United have wasted little time laying out their intentions this summer, already launching several bids for attacking reinforcements as Ruben Amorim reshapes his squad.
With no European football at Old Trafford this season, expectations are higher than ever when it comes to domestic form, and Amorim is working around the clock to balance youth with experience.
While United remain active in the transfer market, their former players continue to make headlines across Europe, with Paul Pogba once again taking centre stage.
The French midfielder’s career has taken a turbulent turn since leaving Manchester for a second time, with injuries and off-field issues threatening to derail his future altogether.
Yet despite the setbacks, Paul Pogba is edging closer to a return to top-flight football – just not as soon as many had hoped.
Pogba, who was banned for doping in February 2024, had his four-year suspension reduced to 18 months on appeal.
The revised sanction left fans wondering not if, but when and where the 32-year-old would resume his career.
That question was answered in late June when AS Monaco secured the Frenchman’s signature on a two-year deal, bringing him back into Ligue 1.
Monaco weren’t the only side interested, with clubs from Japan, the US, and the Middle East reportedly monitoring his situation following the expiry of his ban in March.
While Pogba had expressed an “ambition” to face his boyhood club Le Havre on the opening day of the season, Monaco’s sporting director Thiago Scuro has poured cold water on that idea.
“I can guarantee he won’t be on the pitch against Le Havre.
“We are here to be realistic. We expect a three-month process,” Scuro confirmed.
That places Pogba’s return to competitive action around early October, marking more than two years since his last professional appearance in September 2023, as reported by the BBC.
United fans will no doubt be keeping an eye on the midfielder’s progress, with many still holding mixed feelings about how his time at Old Trafford ended.
Whether Pogba can still rediscover the form that once made him one of the world’s most sought-after midfielders remains to be seen.
