Paul Pogba has always been a player who invites intense scrutiny and after the path his career has taken, his situation is polarising people in France.
The “post-Man Utd glow-up” didn’t exactly apply to Paul Pogba, as his spell at Juventus after he signed for them as a free agent wasn’t a success.
Some doping allegations and an ensuing ban left him in no-man’s land, but after the ban was cut short, he went back to his homeland.
Despite some links to Man Utd, he joined AS Monaco last summer, but he’s yet to play a game for them because of fitness issues, which are now dividing opinion in France.
Kylian Mbappe talks up Paul Pogba
Regardless of Pogba’s professional and personal struggles, he has always remained a well-liked player in the footballing fraternity.
Mbappe, in particular, is forever grateful to him for his starring role in the 2018 World Cup, the final of which was won by France.
Mbappe has gone from strength to strength since then, but Pogba’s career arguably peaked at the time, and the now-Real Madrid striker has a lot of sympathy for his former international teammate.
Speaking in a TF1 report, via Onze Mondial, Mbappe said, “We talk often, I hope he’ll get back to his best. I think a lot of people are placing a lot of hope in his return.
“I think he’s a player who gives a different feeling, a player who has never left anyone indifferent. And I think his story, because of his journey and what he’s been through in recent years, is quite moving.
“We want a positive ending for him, to believe that he’ll get his life and career back on track.”
Ex-international Rio Mavuba sends ominous Pogba warning
While Mbappe has talked up Pogba, ex-France international Rio Mavuba is starting to tell people to temper their expectations.
Speaking to TeleFoot, Mavuba said that his “honest” verdict is that Pogba is highly unlikely to reach the top level again.
People should just hope he’s back playing for AS Monaco, because at this point, even that would be considered a win.
He said, “I hope he can come back to AS Monaco. Seeing him on a Ligue 1 pitch again would already be a very good thing.
“But to say that he’ll return to the very top level, there are doubts that are increasingly creeping in, let’s be honest.”
“I think we’ll all be very happy, and he most of all, to resume playing with AS Monaco first.”
Mavuba is right to temper people’s expectations because being out of the game for so long, and hurting through injuries before that, is bound to lower any player’s ceiling.
Pogba is no different, and Monaco are providing him with time and support as he seeks to return to a playing capacity.
From United’s perspective, Pogba leaving on a free transfer for a second time is nowhere near as big a regret as it was the first time around.
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