Watch: Paul Pogba breaks down in tears after AS Monaco move post-doping ban

Paul Pogba could not hold back his emotions after officially confirming his move to Monaco on a free transfer, marking his return to football. The Frenchman was visibly emotional while signing his contract.

Pogba has signed a two-year contract with the club, which runs until June 2027. He has always been a dynamic midfielder, but often attracted attention for the wrong reasons, particularly during his stint with Manchester United.

According to a report by the BBC, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided to reduce his ban from four years to 18 months. Testing revealed the presence of a substance called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is said to be used to increase testosterone and is also on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list. However, the latest ruling determined that the substance only has an effect on females, which led to the reduction in his ban.

Pogba began his career coming through Manchester United’s academy, but later moved to Juventus, where he truly thrived alongside big-name midfielders such as Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, and Arturo Vidal.

His first stint with Juventus saw him win four consecutive Serie A titles, along with two domestic cup titles. He was also part of the team that reached the Champions League final, where they lost to Barcelona in the 2015–2016 season.

He then made a sensational return to Manchester United for 89 million but failed to consistently deliver performances, drawing a lot of criticism. Ultimately, he finished his second spell at United as a Europa League winner and a two-time Carabao Cup winner.

Internationally, he boasts an impressive trophy haul, having helped France win the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the UEFA Nations League three years later.

Following his time at United, he returned to Juventus in 2022 but struggled for the most part due to recurring injury issues.

With an impressive trophy haul and the experience of being part of a winning side, he will hope to revive his career and help bring as much success as possible to Monaco. It remains to be seen whether he can rediscover the form that once dazzled football fans during his time at Juventus, or whether we will see a different version of the star player.