Paul Pogba’s attempt to revive his career has suffered another setback after he was excluded from AS Monaco’s Champions League squad for the second half of the season.
The former Manchester United midfielder, now 32, joined the Ligue 1 side last June as he worked his way back into football following an 18-month doping ban. The move was seen as a fresh start for the World Cup winner after a long spell away from competitive action.
However, Pogba’s return has been slowed by persistent fitness issues. Having gone nearly two years without playing a competitive match, he struggled with minor injuries while trying to regain match sharpness.
He eventually made his long-awaited comeback on November 22, ending an 811-day absence when he came off the bench in a 4-1 loss to Rennes. That appearance was followed by brief substitute outings against Paris Saint-Germain and Brest, but his involvement has remained limited.
French outlet RMC Sport reports that Monaco have now decided to leave Pogba out of their Champions League squad for the knockout phase as he continues to battle physical problems. Under UEFA regulations, clubs are permitted to register only three new players for the knockout stages, forcing Monaco to make difficult selection decisions.
Alongside Pogba, defender Mohammed Salisu and winger Takumi Minamino have also been removed from the squad list. Monaco are set to face PSG in the knockout round play-offs later this month, with the updated squad reflecting the club’s priorities for the decisive stage of the competition.
