Pogba set for emotional return against Rennes

Boluwatife Kehinde
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‎Paul Pogba is set to finally step back onto the pitch this Saturday when Monaco visit Rennes, marking his first appearance in over two years.
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‎The French midfielder has featured only 12 times across the past three campaigns due to a combination of injuries, a doping ban, and an extortion scandal in which he was the victim.
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‎Pogba tested positive for a banned substance in August 2023 after a match with Juventus and initially received a four-year suspension. That punishment was later reduced to 18 months.
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‎Once his suspension ended in March, Monaco opted to take a chance on the 32-year-old, offering him an opportunity to revive his career in Ligue 1.
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‎Pogba has expressed his ambition to fight his way back into the French national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, though whether his body can withstand the physical demands of top-level football remains to be seen.
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‎“It’s every French player’s dream to represent the national team, but it’s a process,” Pogba said when joining Monaco.
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‎“Right now, step one is simply returning and playing at a high level.
‎There are places up for grabs, and you have to earn them.”
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‎Pogba is unlikely to be in the starting XI at Roazhon Park as Ligue 1 resumes after the international break. Manager Sébastien Pocognoli is expected to introduce him only in the closing stages as Monaco, currently sixth, look to reintegrate him gradually.
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‎Even so, fans everywhere will be watching closely to see whether Pogba’s natural vision and unmatched passing creativity remain intact after his long absence.