Paul Pogba is a free agent again: the full story of physical collapse and the doping ban

In 2016, Paul Pogba became one of world football’s most expensive players when Manchester United bought him from Juventus for €105 million. By summer 2026, the World Cup winner’s career had become a painful story of injuries, medical punishment and two consecutive contract terminations.

The doping case that changed everything

Pogba’s major decline began after a random test following Juventus’ match against Udinese in August 2023 returned a positive result for DHEA, a banned substance linked to testosterone production. An Italian anti-doping tribunal initially imposed a four-year suspension.

His legal team appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the ban was reduced to 18 months after the judges accepted there had been no deliberate attempt to cheat and that the substance came through an incorrect supplement recommended by a private doctor.

Even with the shorter ban, the long period away from competitive football and normal training badly damaged Pogba’s physical and technical base.

Juventus cut ties

Pogba publicly said he wanted to remain and was willing to reduce his salary, but Juventus’ new sporting project moved on without him. The club terminated his contract by mutual consent on 30 November 2024, saving a substantial amount in future salary and bonuses.

Monaco: a comeback that never got going

Monaco offered Pogba a two-year contract in the second half of 2025, giving him a route back into French football. But after years of injuries and minimal playing time in his second Juventus spell, his body struggled with competitive demands.

He suffered another knee problem, then a serious left-thigh injury during pre-season in England. Pogba made only six Monaco appearances for a total of roughly 115 minutes. With repeated setbacks preventing a full recovery, the player and club agreed to end the deal in August 2026, a year before expiry.

Hard lessons for young players

• Absolute care with nutrition and supplements: every player must check food, medication and supplements with club medical staff.
• Recovery and physical discipline: extraordinary talent alone cannot sustain an elite career; conditioning and rehabilitation matter just as much.
• Mental protection: coping with pressure and outside noise requires psychological resilience so that focus remains on football.