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Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Pogba to join ex-Arsenal star praised by Henry and who hit out at England snub
Paul Pogba has reportedly agreed a two-year deal with Monaco and that would see the ex-Manchester United midfielder link up with former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun Paul Pogba is reportedly about to join Monaco after spending nearly two years away from football due to a doping ban, with the former Manchester United and Juventus star set to link up with ex-Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun. Pogba was initially given a four-year ban after testing positive for the banned substance DHEA, but that was reduced to 18 months after he won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He was free to play again in March, but has yet to join a new club after his contract with Juventus was terminated in November. French outlet Le Parisien have reported that Pogba is close to signing a two-year contract with Monaco, having made 'significant financial sacrifices' in order to agree a deal. However, when asked about his future on Sergio Aguero's podcast La Casa del Kun, Pogba said: "I haven't signed anything, but there's interest. We'll see." If Pogba does end up joining Monaco, he will count a number of fellow former Premier League players as team-mates. This includes Balogun, who joined Monaco from Arsenal back in 2023. The 23-year-old enjoyed a decent debut campaign, netting eight goals in 32 games across all competitions, but struggled with injury problems last season that limited him to just seven starts. However, Balogun is a proven goalscorer in Ligue 1 after netting 21 goals in 37 games during a loan spell at Reims. Balogun later stated that he decided to go to France because he wanted to step out of his comfort zone and challenge himself, with the decision earning him praise from former Arsenal and Monaco star Thierry Henry. "I'm really happy for him because in general English players don't go abroad – normally players are loaned either to another Premier League side or in the Championship," Henry said on Prime Video in 2022. "He's a very English-style player who likes to run down the channels but he was missing something, which was his finishing. He's now starting to score goals regularly and I'm happy for that, happy he has gone abroad. "It's especially so considering he is a Londoner – in general Londoners struggle to leave London. When I heard he was coming to France, it made me think he has a refreshing mindset." Balogun was born in America, but grew up in London after emigrating to England when he was just two-years-old. He joined Arsenal's academy at the age of 10 and represented both England and the US at age group level before ultimately deciding to play for America at senior level. And his decision to declare for America came after he was left out of Gareth Southgate's first England squad for 2023, despite his impressive form for Reims. After the squad was announced, Balogun appeared to take aim at England as he posted on Instagram: "In life, go where you're appreciated. Be easy." Just a few months later, it was announced that he had committed to the US and he has been ever-present for them since, although he is yet to make an appearance under Mauricio Pochettino due to his recent injury struggles.
Daily Mirror
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood denied Man Utd reunion for two reasons
Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba looks set to join up with Monaco to reignite his career and the chance of joining up with Mason Greenwood at Marseille appears to be over Paul Pogba is set to make his return to football having been without a club since November 2024. The midfielder appears to be on his way to Monaco and set to sign a two-year deal in the principality. Juventus parted ways with the Frenchman after he received an 18-month doping ban, which was lifted in March. Pogba, 32, was initially linked to joining up with Marseille and former Manchester United team-mate Mason Greenwood under Roberto De Zerbi. Despite persistent links, Les Minots ultimately never made a proposal for Pogba's services, despite his availability for free. De Zerbi is said to have been a fan of the player but too many issues stood in the way of Marseille taking the risk. The volume of midfielders the club already have at their disposal played on the side's mind. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has already seen his loan move made permanent while the club are set to trigger a clause to do the same with Ismael Bennacer to add to Geoffrey Kondogbia, Adrien Rabiot, Valentin Rongier and Bilal Nadir. Marseille's second concern is based around Pogba's fitness. The French club were not convinced that the veteran would be in his best shape to be successful, per RMC Sport. Now, Pogba is said have made 'financial sacrifices' ahead of joining up with Monaco for next season. Though, the World Cup winner recently claimed he had yet to commit to a club. "I haven't signed anything, but there's interest. We'll see," Pogba told Sergio Aguero's podcast, La Casa del Kun. But the ex-Juventus star did reveal his admiration for Argentine giants Boca Juniors "In life, you never know," he said. "I loved the people who went to see Boca's match (at the Club World Cup), it's crazy because I went to Marseille, which is hot, Naples is hot, but Boca... I've never seen that in my life." But Pogba's chance of linking up with Greenwood appear to be over. The pair played together 71 times at Old Trafford. Greenwood joined Marseille last summer as the French side offered him a new home after United decided he had no future with the club. The 23-year-old spent the previous season on loan at Getafe.
