By Francis Onyach - Reporter
France, 11 August 2026 - Paul Pogba’s troubled return to football has suffered another major setback, with AS Monaco seeking to end the French midfielder’s contract after just over a year at the club.
According to a report by Nice-Matin, subsequently confirmed by Le Parisien, Monaco’s management has informed Pogba’s representatives that the club wants to terminate his contract. The intention is to reach a mutual agreement that would allow the 33-year-old to leave the Principality before September 1 and look for a new club during the current transfer window.
The development comes on the same day Pogba suffered another injury scare during Monaco training. The midfielder was forced to cut short Tuesday’s session after appearing to suffer an injury to his left thigh. L’Équipe and Le Parisien both reported that the nature and severity of the problem were still being assessed.
The timing has added another layer to what has already been an extremely difficult period in Pogba’s career.
Importantly, Monaco’s intention is not being reported as an immediate unilateral dismissal.
The club wants to reach an agreement with Pogba over the termination of his contract. According to the reporting from Nice-Matin cited by Le Parisien, Monaco has already communicated its desire to end the relationship, leaving the final decision and negotiations between the two parties.
The objective is understood to be allowing Pogba to become available on the market before the end of the summer transfer window rather than keeping him tied to a contract that currently runs beyond the present season.
Pogba therefore has a decision to make over his future.
Another Injury Changes the Picture
The latest injury appears to have strengthened Monaco’s concerns about Pogba’s ability to maintain consistent availability.
Pogba had only recently returned to collective training after another physical problem. He suffered the latest setback during a training session on Tuesday, August 11, with reports indicating that he felt discomfort in his left thigh. Further medical examinations were expected to establish the extent of the problem.
This was particularly frustrating because Monaco had entered the summer with the intention of assessing whether Pogba could finally establish himself physically and contribute regularly.
Instead, his preparations have again been interrupted.
Pogba joined Monaco in June 2025 on a two-year contract after his departure from Juventus.
The move was supposed to represent a fresh beginning.
The 2018 World Cup winner had endured an extraordinary period away from competitive football. His anti-doping suspension had initially been set at four years before being reduced to 18 months following an appeal, allowing him to return to professional football. He subsequently left Juventus after the two parties mutually terminated his contract in November 2024.
Monaco gave Pogba the opportunity to rebuild his career in France.
He officially joined the club on June 28, 2025, signing a deal that was scheduled to keep him in the Principality until 2027.
But his return has been severely restricted by injuries.
Pogba eventually made his competitive Monaco debut against Rennes in November 2025, entering as a substitute in a 4-1 defeat. It was his first competitive appearance in more than two years.
His comeback, however, never developed into a sustained run of football.
By early 2026, Monaco's management was already expressing concern about the situation. The club's general manager Thiago Scuro acknowledged that the plan surrounding Pogba's return had not developed as expected, while questions were raised about whether the midfielder would continue with the club.
Monaco had effectively made this summer an important assessment period for Pogba.
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The midfielder needed to demonstrate that he could remain healthy, train consistently and regain enough match fitness to become a meaningful part of the squad.
There were some encouraging moments.
Pogba featured in Monaco's first preparation match against Saint-Priest on July 18, playing the second half of a 5-2 victory. However, he subsequently missed the next four friendly matches because of another physical problem involving his right knee, according to the latest reporting surrounding his situation.
He had only recently returned to group training before Tuesday's latest setback.
That sequence appears to have convinced Monaco that continuing the relationship may no longer be viable.
Pogba's immediate priority is now his recovery from the latest injury, while his representatives negotiate with Monaco over a possible separation.
The club reportedly wants the situation resolved before September 1, which would give Pogba the opportunity to explore his options as a free agent during the transfer window.
However, the termination is not yet presented as a completed deal.
The negotiations are important because Pogba still has contractual rights with Monaco. A mutual termination would require an agreement between the player and the club over the financial and contractual terms of his departure.
Reports indicate that Monaco is prepared to discuss a financial settlement rather than simply abandoning its obligations to the player.
Where Could Pogba Go?
At this stage, there is no confirmed destination for Pogba.
The priority is establishing his fitness and completing the contractual process with Monaco. Only after his situation is resolved will the midfielder be in a position to seriously consider his next club.
Pogba remains a high-profile player because of his extraordinary career. He won four consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus during his first spell in Turin, returned to Manchester United for a then-world-record transfer fee, and played a key role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph.
But his current market situation is very different from the one he enjoyed during his prime.
At 33, after several years severely disrupted by injuries, suspension and limited competitive football, his next club would be taking a significant gamble on his ability to regain consistency.
Pogba's Monaco adventure was intended to be the beginning of a comeback story.
Instead, it now appears increasingly likely to end after only one season.
The midfielder arrived in the Principality hoping to prove that he could once again perform at the highest level. Monaco were willing to take the risk because of his extraordinary talent and experience.
But football ultimately demands availability, and Pogba has struggled to provide it.
The latest injury, coming just as he returned to group training, has apparently accelerated a decision that Monaco had already been considering.
For now, Pogba's future remains unresolved.
What is clear is that AS Monaco wants to find a mutually acceptable way to end the contract, while Pogba must decide whether to accept the proposed separation and begin another attempt to revive his career elsewhere.
After everything he has experienced since leaving Manchester United, Juventus and France's 2018 World Cup triumph behind him, the next few weeks could represent another decisive moment in Paul Pogba's remarkable and increasingly unpredictable career.