Staff Reporter.
French World Cup winner Paul Pogba is closing in on a return to professional football, with AS Monaco pushing to sign the French midfielder on a two-year deal.
Pogba has not played competitive football since being issued with a four-year doping suspension by the Italian anti-doping tribunal in September 2023 for testing positive for the elevated levels of Testosterone.
Talks have been ongoing for a number of weeks, with Pogba training before pre-season as he plots his return to action.
Pogba was provisionally suspended after being randomly tested following Juventus’ opening game of the 2023-24 season against Udinese.
He later received a four-year ban which was slashed to 18 months in October following an appeal.
He agreed a mutual termination of his contract with Juventus in November and has been free to recommence his career since March.
In the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s final judgement on his case it was confirmed that Pogba did inadvertently take DHEA, a substance that boosts testosterone and is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.
Crucially, however, the ruling stated that DHEA only has an effect on performance for females.
Pogba has been linked with moves to Saudi Pro League teams and teams due to compete in the FIFA club World Cup.