Pogba will play his first match after the doping ban

The 32-year-old player had transferred to the Ligue 1 side last summer after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced his four-year doping ban to 19 months.

Pogba’s last official match took place in September 2023, in a Serie A game against Empoli while wearing a Juventus shirt. The former Manchester United midfielder found time at Monaco to build match fitness and was expected to play in the match against Lens on 8 November, but he could not make his debut due to an ankle injury. However, Pogba is now expected to be included in Monaco’s squad for the match against Rennes on Saturday.

After a doping test conducted in August 2023, his dehydroepiandrosterone test also came back positive in February 2024, leading to his provisional four-year suspension from football. Pogba argued that this was a mistake and that he had been given a supplement containing a banned substance without his knowledge.

The 2018 World Cup–winning French international was granted permission to return to football in March following the decision to reduce his suspension. If Pogba makes his Monaco debut against Rennes, it will mark his first match in Ligue 1.