The long-awaited arrival of the World Cup-winning central midfielder playing soccer again was recently announced with a two-year deal in the French top tier.
Pogba opted for the glitz and glamor of Monaco over a lucrative deal in the Saudi Pro League. His goal is to revive his career in Ligue 1 following a doping ban, and to be selected for France.
The 32-year-old former Juve icon could be joined by a player that was competing in the Juventus Next Gen when he failed a drugs test in August 2023.
Pogba sidelined after Juve axe
Hampered by injuries, the 2018 World Cup champion only appeared in 12 matches over the past three seasons. He was banned while at Juventus and released by the Italian giants last year.
Pogba is preparing to play in Ligue 1 for the very first time, and could have Juve left winger Samuel Mbangula as his team-mate.
Belgium U21 star Mbangula is firmly on the radar of Monaco. He featured in the first team under the then head coach Thiago Motta, but has fallen out of favor since Igor Tudor’s March arrival. He scored four goals in his 32 matches last term.
Mbangula, who can be implemented on either flank and as a secondary striker, didn’t play a single minute in Juve’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
Having not been brought on against Real Madrid, when the side were clearly lacking firepower signaled that his days were numbered.
Out of favor Mbangula
He was omitted from the squad that faced Manchester City in the final group game, as a deal was imminent for the sale of both Mbangula and Timothy Weah for a combined fee of €23 million (US$27m) to Nottingham Forest.
Various reports in England claimed that negotiations stopped as Forest were not convinced by the conditions of the deal. In Italy it was reported, with quotes from agents, that the players rejected the deal.
AFC Bournemouth, who like Forest were a surprise package in the Premier League last term, have shown interest in acquiring Brussels born Mbangula. Juve turned down a bid from West Ham United during the winter transfer window.
German outfits Bayer Leverkusen and SV Werder Bremen have also expressed interest, with Bologna monitoring his situation and Monaco keen to lure the versatile 21-year-old to their iconic Stade Louis II on the Cote d’Azur.
Friction between Juventus and Weah
Following the Forest debacle there's been a rift between right winger Weah and Juventus. He turned down the approaches from Forest, when an agreement between the two clubs was reportedly in place according to Italian media outlets.
Weah opted to compete for Juve at the Club World Cup rather than play for the United States at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, as he expected playing time. Yet he only featured for the first half against UAE Pro League’s Al-Ain FC as he was substituted from his makeshift role on the left flank.
The 25-year-old was left on the bench against Wydad AC, then like Mbangula left out of the squad because of the Forest negotiations. Weah featured as an unused substitute against Real.
Premier League clubs have been queuing up for Weah, without any offers tabled, with Olympique Marseille looking ready to scupper the English top-flight teams by bidding for the New Yorker.