What if: Paul Pogba was close to joining Paris Saint-Germain
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 25.02.26. | 10:51
Former Manchester United star could have ended at Parc des Princes a few years ago
When Paris Saint-Germain host AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, Paul Pogba won't feature for either side.
Which is where the irony begins.
Now 32, Pogba is contracted to Monaco after signing a two-year deal last summer following the end of his doping suspension. His long-awaited return, however, has barely materialised: just over 30 minutes spread across three appearances, and no involvement since early December.
He has since been deregistered from Monaco's Champions League squad - not that he would have been fit enough to play anyway.
Monaco must overturn a 3-2 deficit.
But there was a time when he could have been wearing Parisian colours instead.
According to L'Equipe, in 2022, as his contract with Manchester United was nearing its end, Pogba attracted interest from Juventus, Real Madrid and PSG.
In fact, sources at the Ligue 1 champions claim it was Pogba himself who made the first move, reaching out to explore a return to France. Concrete discussions followed with the then-sporting director Leonardo.
The talks, however, went nowhere.
By the end of that winter, PSG had begun distancing themselves from their so-called "bling-bling" era - a project built on star power and commercial magnetism - and Pogba no longer fit the evolving blueprint.
So Pogba returned to Juventus instead.
Now, two and a half years later, as PSG and Monaco battle for European survival, and Pogba finds himself on the outside looking in.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS
Return leg
Tuesday
Atletico Madrid - Club Brugge 4-1 (1-1)
/Sorloth 23, 76, 87, Cardoso 48 - Ordonez 36/
Atletico Madrid win 7-4 on aggregate
Inter Milan - Bodo/Glimt 1-2 (0-0)
/Bastoni 77 - Hauge 58, Evjen 72/
Bodo/Glimt win 5-2 on aggregate
Bayer Leverkusen - Olympiacos 0-0
Bayer Leverkusen win 2-0 on aggregate
Newcastle - Qarabag 3-2 (2-0)
/Tonali 4, Joelinton 6, Botman 52 - Duran 51, Jafarguliyev 57/
Newcastle win 9-3 on aggregate
Wednesday
20.45: (2.15) Atalanta (3.50) Dortmund (3.60)
22.00: (1.53) Juventus (4.80) Galatasaray (5.95)
23.00: (1.25) PSG (6.50) Monaco (10.0)
23.00: (1.45) Real Madrid (4.50) Benfica (7.00)
***odds are subject to change***