Paul Pogba’s Monaco spell was always going to be judged through a complicated lens. Last June, he arrived on a two-year deal as a high-profile returnee after serving a suspension for a doping offence, but the 2025-2026 campaign never really gave the club enough football to properly measure the fit. Now, with Monaco chief Scuro saying Pogba may leave this summer, the bigger story is not just what happened last season. It is whether the club has already decided that the project is better served by moving on.
The raw numbers tell the basic story. Pogba made only six Ligue 1 appearances for AS Monaco and totaled just 115 minutes, while also not featuring in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. For a player of his standing, that is a tiny sample. For a club that expected influence, continuity and leadership, it is a sign that the relationship never really got off the ground on the pitch.
Why the move may now make sense
Scuro’s comments point to two realities at once: sporting disappointment and financial practicality. Earlier this year, he said Pogba’s signing had not met expectations, and that assessment has not become less relevant with time. Monaco also appear to be thinking about the wage bill before the 2026-2027 campaign, which gives the club another reason to consider a change if the fit is still uncertain.
That does not mean Pogba lacked value inside the dressing room. Scuro said he helped younger players and described him as a person the club respects, while Filipe Luis has also referred to him as a special player. But good intentions do not always become usable minutes, and that is where Monaco’s evaluation has to be ruthless. A team preparing for a new campaign cannot build around reputation alone.
The fitness issue is the central detail. Pogba missed a large chunk of the season because of physical problems, and Monaco’s stance is clearly that his future should be judged by his preparation and progression from week to week. Scuro was careful to say the club wants to see how he develops physically and technically, which suggests the door is still open. But it is not open on the old terms.
The final decision belongs elsewhere
Scuro made one point especially clear: the coach will decide whether Pogba gets playing time, and that means Filipe Luis now holds the key to the immediate future. Monaco have not made the final call yet, but the direction of travel is obvious. If Pogba cannot show enough in training and enough in the summer build-up, the club may decide that a clean break is the most sensible option.
That is what makes this story bigger than one player’s difficult season. Pogba is 33, Monaco are entering a new cycle, and the club has to decide whether hope is still worth carrying forward. For all his pedigree, his future now feels less like a celebration of a comeback and more like a test of whether that comeback can still become a real footballing contribution.
