Monaco and Paul Pogba in talks to terminate contract after six appearances
Monaco considers contract termination
Monaco and Paul Pogba are reportedly in discussions to mutually terminate the midfielder’s contract after he made only six appearances for the club. Talks between the player and the club are ongoing, aiming to conclude the two-year agreement after just 12 months.
The Ligue 1 club had reportedly hoped to help the 33-year-old midfielder, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, regain his previous fitness levels. However, the club indicates they have not been able to achieve this.
Pogba sustained a hamstring injury on Tuesday at St. George’s Park, where Monaco is based during the club’s pre-season tour of England. This injury could potentially sideline the midfielder for several months. Despite this recent setback, discussions regarding the mutual termination of his contract have been underway for several weeks.
Recent injury and return challenges
The latest injury occurred during a training session, forcing Pogba to leave the pitch prematurely during a passing drill. According to one report, he cried out before collapsing to the turf and was attended by medical staff, then supported off the pitch by two members of the Monaco backroom team, which visibly concerned his teammates.
This fresh blow comes as Pogba was beginning to reintegrate into full group training sessions after a period marked by physical issues. He had managed only a brief appearance in pre-season prior to this new injury. Head coach Filipe Luís had expressed optimism about bringing the experienced midfielder back into the squad. At 33 years old, the Frenchman faces continued challenges in achieving full match fitness and consistency.
The timing of this setback is particularly difficult for Monaco as they prepare for the new campaign. The club’s hierarchy had previously stated that pre-season assessments would be crucial in determining Pogba’s long-term future. With his physical condition remaining a concern, management awaits the results of medical scans to assess the severity of the issue. Both the player and coaching staff face an anxious wait regarding the potential duration of his absence.
Pogba’s career trajectory
The former Manchester United midfielder joined Monaco on a free transfer last summer. He had been a free agent since his departure from Juventus in November 2024. Pogba’s debut for Monaco in November 2025 marked his first appearance since September 2023, a period of 26 months. This extended absence followed a ban for breaching anti-doping regulations.
Initially, the central midfielder received a four-year ban in February 2024, which was later reduced to 18 months upon appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This reduction allowed him to return to training in January and resume his playing career in March.
Pogba began his youth career at Le Havre before joining United as a teenager. He has made 91 appearances for France but has not featured for the national team since 2022. He is also a four-time Serie A winner with Juventus, having played 190 times for the Turin club.
As Monaco looks ahead to upcoming competitive fixtures, the immediate focus shifts to managing the squad’s midfield depth. The coaching staff must now plan without one of their high-profile names while he undergoes rehabilitation. The priority remains supporting the midfielder through this latest chapter in his career, with talks for contract termination having been ongoing for several weeks.
Source: nytimes.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
